USDA Plan = More Animal Suffering

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is proposing a dangerous rollback of basic safeguards that protect animals, workers, and our food supply—and we must do everything we can to stop it.

Under new proposed rules, the USDA would allow chicken slaughter lines to accelerate from 140 to 175 birds per minute and increase turkey slaughter speeds—pushing an already brutal system into overdrive and putting even more animals at risk of suffering. These changes prioritize industry profits over basic standards of animal welfare and public safety.

Even more shocking, the USDA is considering eliminating line speed limits entirely for pig slaughterhouses. With no cap at all, there would be virtually no guardrails to prevent extreme speeds—opening the door to even greater cruelty, more worker injuries, and a complete breakdown of oversight.

At these extreme speeds, animals are more likely to suffer horrific mistreatment. When slaughter lines move too fast, workers cannot properly stun or handle animals—leading to birds being scalded alive and pigs being improperly killed. Faster lines mean more mistakes, more suffering, and less accountability.

Workers also pay the price. Slaughterhouse jobs are already among the most dangerous in America, with high rates of repetitive stress injuries and trauma. Increasing line speeds intensifies workloads and raises the risk of serious injury—especially when no additional staffing protections are required.

The proposal would also remove key worker safety reporting requirements, reducing oversight just as risks are increasing. This is a clear step backward for transparency and accountability.

Meanwhile, the USDA claims these changes will improve efficiency. But efficiency should never come at the cost of cruelty, worker safety, or food safety. When inspection systems are pushed beyond their limits, contamination risks rise and oversight is weakened.

Sign the petition to oppose this proposed rule and urge USDA Secretary Brooke L. Rollins to immediately withdraw it. Instead, the agency must strengthen—not dismantle—line speed protections to ensure humane treatment, safe working conditions, and a trustworthy food system.

Animals are not machines. Workers are not disposable. Our food system should not be a race to the bottom.

Sign the petition to tell USDA Secretary Brooke L. Rollins to stop the line speed increases now.

The petition to USDA Secretary Brooke L. Rollins reads: I urge the USDA to reject any proposal to increase slaughterhouse line speeds for chickens, turkeys, or pigs, and to maintain strong limits that protect animals from unnecessary suffering. Faster line speeds put both animals and workers at greater risk while weakening food safety oversight. The USDA must prioritize humane treatment, safe working conditions, and public health over industry pressure.
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Sources:

Animal Legal Defense Fund | Petition: Urge USDA to Stop Its Plans to Increase Slaughterhouse Line Speeds | https://aldf.org/article/petition-urge-usda-to-stop-its-plans-to-increase-slaughterhouse-line-speeds/

Regulations.gov | FSIS-2025-0012-0003 | https://www.regulations.gov/document/FSIS-2025-0012-0003

Civil Eats | Proposed USDA Rules Would Increase Line Speeds at Meatpacking Plants | https://civileats.com/2026/02/18/proposed-usda-rules-would-increase-line-speeds-at-meatpacking-plants/