U.S. government sues California over poultry welfare regulations

In a move that has reignited debates over states' rights and federal oversight, the Trump administration filed a federal lawsuit against California on July 9, 2025, challenging the state’s stringent animal welfare laws related to poultry farming.

David Corredor

In a move that has reignited debates over states’ rights and federal oversight, the Trump administration filed a federal lawsuit against California on July 9, 2025, challenging the state’s stringent animal welfare laws related to poultry farming. The lawsuit, lodged in a Los Angeles federal court, argues that California’s regulations on egg production violate the federal Egg Products Inspection Act of 1970 and contribute to rising egg prices nationwide.

• At the heart of the dispute are California laws including Proposition 2 (2008), AB 1437, and Proposition 12 (2018), which mandate that eggs sold in the state must come from hens housed in conditions that allow them to stand, lie down, turn around, and fully extend their limbs.
• Proposition 12 further requires cage-free housing systems for hens and sets similar standards for pigs and calves raised for veal.

The Department of Justice contends that these laws impose “unnecessary red tape” on farmers across the country, effectively barring them from using traditional production methods that help keep eggs affordable. The administration claims that California’s standards are not based on scientific evidence and have led to a 20% increase in egg prices since their implementation.

Attorney General Pam Bondi stated, “Americans across the country have suffered the consequences of liberal policies causing massive inflation for everyday items like eggs. Under President Trump’s leadership, we will use the full extent of federal law to ease these regulatory burdens.”

• California officials, including Governor Gavin Newsom, have pushed back strongly.
• Newsom’s office responded on social media, mocking the lawsuit and defending the state’s right to set humane standards for animal treatment.
• Supporters of the laws, such as the Humane Society of the United States, argue that the regulations are essential for preventing cruel confinement and reducing food safety risks like salmonella and E. coli.

This legal challenge follows a 2023 Supreme Court decision that upheld California’s right to enforce Proposition 12, even on out-of-state producers. Despite that ruling, the Trump administration maintains that the state’s laws are unconstitutional under the Supremacy Clause and federal food safety statutes.