U.S. Confirms First Screwworm Case as Trump Cuts 18% of USDA Workforce
Updated
Updated · CBS New York · Jul 1
U.S. Confirms First Screwworm Case as Trump Cuts 18% of USDA Workforce
3 articles · Updated · CBS New York · Jul 1
Summary
June 3 brought the first new U.S. screwworm case in decades, and more than a dozen animals have now been infected, raising fears of a wider outbreak that could hit cattle.
The response is unfolding after federal cutbacks thinned disease defenses: USDA lost 18% of its workforce in the first half of 2025, while USAID and CDC programs tied to monitoring and prevention were reduced or disrupted.
Health risks are also rising on other fronts, with eight Vibrio infections reported this year, Long Island coastal alerts posted, and CDC data showing about 1 in 5 infected people die.
Malaria prevention was also weakened after the aid freeze disrupted a program credited with saving more than 11 million lives, while CDC warned in May that the U.S. remains vulnerable to reintroduction.
Trump officials say the cuts remove waste and that other surveillance systems remain in place, but former health leaders argue the pullback is eroding U.S. protection against expanding infectious threats.
Why are diseases eradicated decades ago, such as malaria and screwworm, now re-emerging in the United States?
As climate change fuels new outbreaks, can technology fill the gap left by reduced public health surveillance?
2026 Screwworm Crisis in Texas: Political Fallout, USDA Cuts, and the Battle to Protect U.S. Agriculture
Overview
In June 2026, a confirmed outbreak of New World screwworm in Zavala County, Texas, led the USDA to take immediate action and urge residents and livestock owners to be vigilant. The USDA called on the community to carefully inspect pets and livestock for signs of infection, such as draining wounds or the presence of larvae and eggs in natural body openings. Anyone suspecting an infection was instructed to contact animal health officials right away. This rapid response highlights the importance of early detection and community cooperation in controlling the spread of the screwworm crisis.