Trump administration sues California over egg regulations

The Trump administration has filed a federal lawsuit against California, arguing that the state’s animal welfare laws related to egg production are driving up prices across the country and infringing on federal authority.

According to Reuters, the Department of Justice filed the suit Wednesday in a Los Angeles federal court, asserting that California’s laws violate the Egg Products Inspection Act of 1970, which sets nationwide standards for egg safety and labeling. The law is meant to ensure uniformity and protect consumers, and federal officials claim that California’s more stringent rules on hen housing and out-of-state egg imports interfere with that federal mandate.

The lawsuit targets a couple of California laws: AB 1437, Proposition 2 (passed by voters in 2008) and Proposition 12 (approved in 2018). These measures prohibit the sale of eggs from hens that are confined in ways that prevent them from standing, lying down, turning around, or fully extending their limbs. The administration argues that the measures amount to “unnecessary red tape” that disrupts egg supply chains and forces price hikes on consumers nationwide.

“Americans across the country have suffered the consequences of liberal policies causing massive inflation for everyday items like eggs,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement, adding that the Trump administration will “use the full extent of federal law” to ease those regulatory burdens.

The lawsuit names California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and other officials as defendants. Newsom’s office responded on X, writing, “Trump’s back to his favorite hobby: blaming California for literally everything.”

Proposition 12, in particular, has been the center of multiple legal challenges. In 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the measure in a separate case involving pork producers, ruling that California could set minimum animal welfare standards for products sold within the state, even if the products come from outside its borders.

Still, the Trump administration argues that Proposition 12 has “caused a significant increase in egg prices,” and that its standards are not grounded in scientific evidence. As Fox Business highlighted, the lawsuit claims California’s regulations have “effectively prevented farmers across the country from using a number of agricultural production methods which were in widespread use — and which helped keep eggs affordable.”

The Department of Justice also noted that California’s rules treat violations as criminal offenses, with potential penalties of up to a $1,000 fine and 180 days in jail, as well as civil actions under unfair competition laws.

“Bureaucratic red tape and unnecessary regulations implemented by the State of California have made the cost of everyday goods, like eggs, less affordable for Americans,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate. “This Department of Justice will work to free consumers from this regulatory burden and bring economic prosperity to families.”

As Politico points out, egg prices became a political flashpoint during the 2024 presidential election, with Trump blaming the Biden administration for grocery inflation.