Screwworm Livestock

Cattle graze near a sterile fly dispersal station placed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to combat the spread of the New World screwworm fly on grounds of a ranch near La Pryor, Texas, Thursday, June 11, 2026.

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Political blame game follows as screwworm parasite threatens cattle in Texas

Political blame game follows as screwworm parasite threatens cattle in Texas

The return of the screwworm parasite to the U.S. has some politicians trying to figure out who to blame. The fly larvae feed on living flesh, posing a threat to cattle and livestock. Democrats blame spending cuts and fewer inspectors at the USDA. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump's Agriculture secretary says the flies left their containment zone in Panama under former President Joe Biden's administration and moved north through lax immigration enforcement. Scientists say the return was inevitable due to a slowed eradication campaign and the warming planet. The USDA plans to spend over $1 billion to combat the pest, including producing sterile flies to control the population.