In a joint letter dated August 1, more than 150 national and state-level agricultural, livestock, and wildlife organizations have called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to take urgent action against the threat of New World screwworm (NWS). Addressed to Secretary Brooke Rollins, the letter emphasizes the critical need for a domestic sterile fly production facility—a key component in preventing a devastating outbreak of this parasitic pest in the United States.
The organizations expressed appreciation for USDA’s recent announcement at Moore Air Base, outlining a five-pronged domestic readiness plan that includes a sterile fly dispersal partnership with the Panama-United States Commission for the Eradication and Prevention of Screwworm (COPEG). However, the letter stresses that without a U.S.-based sterile fly production facility, the country’s response strategy remains incomplete.
“While the dispersal facility is a vital step forward, the absence of a domestic production facility limits our ability to respond swiftly and effectively to a potential outbreak,” the letter states. The coalition is urging USDA to fully fund and immediately begin construction on such a facility, using the authority granted under the Animal Health Protection Act.
New World screwworm, which feeds on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, poses a serious threat to the U.S. livestock industry, wildlife populations, and rural economies. USDA estimates a potential outbreak in Texas cattle alone could cost $1.8 billion annually, with national losses exceeding $4.3 billion if the pest spreads to historic ranges. Total economic damages could surpass $10.6 billion per year.
The signatories—representing a broad cross-section of producers, agribusinesses, and conservation groups—highlight that SIT (sterile insect technique) is the most science-based and proven approach to eradication. Without it, they warn that cattle, pigs, sheep, poultry, horses, and native wildlife remain vulnerable to infestation.
The coalition concludes by asking USDA and Congress to prioritize immediate funding and coordination to construct the facility, stating: “The stakes are simply too high to delay.”
