‘Elon Musk Should Have to Pay For This’: Trump Admin Says It Needs $1 Billion to Combat Screwworm

Key Points:

• Elon Musk's "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) cut $15 million in USDA funding aimed at combating screwworm infestations and terminated a $382 million animal disease program in March 2025, contributing to current bottlenecks and increased costs in fighting the outbreak.
• The Trump administration is now spending at least $1 billion to address the screwworm outbreak in Texas and New Mexico, with plans to build a large sterile fly breeding facility expected to be fully operational by late 2027.
• DOGE's cuts also delayed a Mexico-based sterile fly facility authorized by the Biden administration, which remains under construction and is not expected to produce flies until summer 2026, while staffing cuts at USDA's APHIS weakened border inspection efforts.
• Critics argue the outbreak and soaring beef prices highlight the failure of DOGE's cost-cutting measures, with Rep. Pramila Jayapal calling it "peak incompetence" and pointing out that the administration saved $15 million by cutting prevention programs but now faces $1 billion in outbreak costs.
• The controversy has sparked public backlash, including calls for Elon Musk to be held financially responsible for the consequences of DOGE's budget cuts amid the escalating screwworm crisis.