America’s food supply is safe, and the @USDA is taking swift, aggressive action to eradicate New World screwworm.
This is a pest the United States successfully eradicated in the 1960s through coordinated science and sterile fly technology.
Under the previous administration, New World screwworm began to re-emerge and move north through the Darien Gap as millions of people traveled towards the southern border.
By 2023, screwworm was present in Mexico.
It was shocking when I came into office in February of last year to learn the last administration had just five full-time staff working on screwworm.
As of last Wednesday, when our first New World screwworm case was confirmed, USDA had over 100 staff working on preparedness and response—a team we built over the last 14 months in anticipation of this moment. This in addition to the $1.3 billion committed and invested for new infrastructure and sterile fly facilities, the first opening later this month.
We have rapidly scaled up our response: expanding surveillance across high-risk corridors, strengthening coordination with state agriculture officials and international partners, and accelerating deployment of proven sterile fly operations that were used successfully to push this pest out of the United States in the 1960s and all the way to South America by the 1980s.
We beat screwworm in the ’60s, and we will beat it again. Visit https://t.co/WLHhKbcWyr for more information and up to date information.🐄🇺🇸
James Talarico says that DOGE cuts impacted the monitoring of New World screwworm and is calling for the Trump administration to increase staffing at the Department of Agriculture @GrayDCnews
SCOOP: James Talarico is in town — and he's headed to K Street. Talarico had his first fundraiser since the runoff at bipartisan lobbying firm FTP this afternoon, I'm told. Comes after Paxton held a K Street fundraiser at GOP firm AxAdvocacy on Tuesday. 👀
Beto O'Rourke and Colin Allred have played the flipping Texas game before
I asked James Talarico what's different this time
He says he does not want his campaign to be left v. right, it should be people at the top vs. bottom
@GrayDCnews
In his concession speech in Austin tonight, Sen. John Cornyn said he intends to support the Republican ticket in the Texas Senate race, without naming Attorney General Ken Paxton by name. @GrayDCnews@kwtx
Trump had been showing more restraint in Senate endorsements this cycle, but endorsing Paxton is giving into his 2022-like instincts....when Trump endorsing weak candidates led to Democrats actually picking up a seat and frittering away winnable races. #TXSen
President Trump just endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Lone Star State's U.S. Senate race.
It comes just a week before the GOP's runoff election and over two months after the president said he would make an endorsement @GrayDCnews@kwtx https://t.co/ig7M9VLx47
A new poll from Texas Southern University finds the Lone Star State’s Senate race in a dead heat.
Shows both Sen. Cornyn & AG Paxton statistically tied with Dem candidate, state Rep. Talarico.
Suggests that it will be a tough race for the GOP, regardless of who wins the runoff
After yesterday’s Supreme Court decision, Louisiana Attorney General Murrill and Gov. Landry say the state can’t carry out any more congressional elections with their current map @FOX8NOLA@WAFB@KSLA@KALBtv5@KNOE8@KPLC7News@GrayDCnews
.@LAGovJeffLandry and I issue the following statement after yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling in Louisiana v. Callais:
Yesterday’s historic Supreme Court victory for Louisiana has an immediate consequence for the State. The Supreme Court previously stayed an injunction against the State’s enforcement of the current Congressional map. By the Court’s order, however, that stay automatically terminated with yesterday’s decision. Accordingly, the State is currently enjoined from carrying out congressional elections under the current map. We are working together with the Legislature and the Secretary of State’s office to develop a path forward.
#lalege #SCOTUS
Speaker Johnson's (R-LA) immediate reaction to SCOTUS Louisiana redistricting decision (voted AGAINST 2nd black congressional district)
"Obviously the right result... we'll see if the state leg. deems it appropriate to go in and draw new maps"
@GrayDCnews
The Supreme Court struck down Louisiana’s congressional map this morning, ruling in the much-anticipated decision that it was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander.
Nationwide, the decision limits the consideration of race when drawing voting maps. @FOX8NOLA@WAFB@GrayDCnews
#New information on the #WHCD shooting from last night. The suspected shooter, 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of CA, is set to be arraigned Monday and is believed to have been targeting Trump administration officials. He was stopped before making it to the ballroom. @GrayDCnews
A look inside the ballroom at the @whca dinner after a reported shooting in the lobby. @GrayDCnews is all ok and headed out, but we’ll have updates all night post the President’s White House briefing and tomorrow.
Today, Senate Republicans released their plan to fund ICE & Border Patrol without Dems, through reconciliation
FL Sen. Ashley Moody said this morning that “we’ve tried everything” when negotiating but now says GOP senators “have to move the people's business forward.”
Congressman Gonzales is the second congressman to announce his retirement today after Rep. Swalwell stepped down amid sexual misconduct accusations. Both were set to face an expulsion vote in the House this week. @GrayDCnews
There is a season for everything and God has a plan for us all. When Congress returns tomorrow, I will file my retirement from office. It has been my privilege to serve the great people of Texas.