White House Pauses 2 Beef-Price Orders as U.S. Cattle Herd Hits 75-Year Low
Updated
Updated · Forbes · May 25
White House Pauses 2 Beef-Price Orders as U.S. Cattle Herd Hits 75-Year Low
2 articles · Updated · Forbes · May 25
Two executive orders meant to cut record beef prices and rebuild the U.S. cattle herd were put on hold earlier this month, stalling a White House effort to ease grocery inflation before the midterms.
One order would have suspended beef tariff-rate quotas for all exporting nations, while the other would have expanded rancher loans and rolled back wolf protections and cattle ear-tag rules.
A 75-year-low cattle herd has driven the squeeze, with steak up 17% to $13.02 a pound and ground beef up 19% to a record $6.90, as drought, labor shortages, shrinking ranch land and high costs curb supply.
Restaurants are absorbing the shock unevenly: Texas brisket costs are up about 28%, several barbecue joints have closed, and 801 Chophouse filed Chapter 11, while Texas Roadhouse and Outback have gained by steering diners to cheaper cuts.
As record beef prices close iconic restaurants, is the American BBQ tradition facing its final chapter?
Can sacrificing endangered wolves and opening import floodgates truly solve America's historic beef shortage?
Is America's historic beef crisis a temporary shortage or the permanent future of our food supply?
2026 U.S. Beef Report: Historic Cattle Decline, Import Expansion, and Economic Fallout
Overview
In May 2026, the White House's proposed executive orders to expand beef imports sparked immediate concern among U.S. cattle producers, especially as President Trump's expected signing was delayed, creating market uncertainty. This uncertainty, combined with expectations for increased imports from countries like Brazil, influenced U.S. cattle futures—June live cattle futures saw slight gains while August feeder cattle futures dropped. The administration's shifting stance and lack of clear communication led to volatility, highlighting the tension between policy decisions, market reactions, and the livelihoods of domestic producers.