Trump signs executive order to keep meat processing plants open

According to The Wall Street Journal, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on April 28 to keep meat processing plants open during the coronavirus pandemic. The president invoked the Defense Production Act, a Korean War–era law, to keep the facilities open, designating the plants as critical infrastructure under the law. The administration is also planning to take steps to improve safety for employees at the facilities, administration officials said.

The executive order directs Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to take all necessary steps to ensure the continued operation of meat and poultry processing facilities. It will insulate them from state-level actions and gives Perdue flexibility to include other food supply chain operations.

“Our nation’s meat and poultry processing facilities play an integral role in the continuity of our food supply chain,” said Perdue in a statement. “Maintaining the health and safety of these heroic employees in order to ensure that these critical facilities can continue operating is paramount. I also want to thank the companies who are doing their best to keep their workforce safe as well as keeping our food supply sustained. USDA will continue to work with its partners across the federal government to ensure employee safety to maintain this essential industry.”

More than a dozen major meatpacking plants in recent weeks have closed following outbreaks among employees, and other workers choosing to stay home rather than risk infection.

Those shutdowns are cutting into the U.S. meat supply. Beef production for the week ended April 25 was 24.5% lower than the same week a year ago, according to data from CoBank, an agricultural lender. Pork production fell 14.6%, and chicken production was down 8.2%.

The North American Meat Institute, a trade group representing U.S. meatpackers, said the order will help farmers and keep food flowing to consumers. “By keeping meat and poultry producers operating, the President’s executive order will help avert hardship for agricultural producers and keep safe, affordable food on the tables of American families,” said Julie Anna Potts, Meat Institute president and CEO, in a press release. “The safety of the heroic men and women working in the meat and poultry industry is the first priority. And as it is assured, facilities should be allowed to re-open.”

Meatpacking plant closures are creating chaos on farms. Around 100,000 pigs due to be sent to slaughter each day this week will have to be held back on farms, pork producers said, and may eventually need to be euthanized.