Promoting Fair Competition in Livestock Markets and Expanding Market Access for American Meat Producers

Executive Order 14424 of September 4, 2026

Promoting Fair Competition in Livestock Markets
and Expanding Market Access for American Meat Producers

By the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, it is hereby ordered:

Section 1. Purpose. American ranchers want to be able
to butcher, process, package, and sell their meat to
consumers across State lines while maintaining the
highest standards of food safety and avoid being
overcharged by monopolistic practices by meat
processors. It is the policy of the United States to
support these goals and reduce barriers to ranchers
processing their own product for sale to consumers by
promoting fair competition in livestock and meat
markets; protecting producers and small processors from
unfair, deceptive, or monopolistic practices; and
expanding legitimate market opportunities for American-
raised livestock and meat products consistent with
applicable law. This order directs more vigorous
enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921
(Public Law 67-51, 42 Stat. 159,7 U.S.C. 181 et seq.)
(the “Act”), and the maximum use of existing
authorities to facilitate greater interstate market
access for eligible meat products while maintaining the
highest standards of food safety that help make United
States born, raised, harvested, and processed food the
best in the world.

Sec. 2. Robust Enforcement of the Packers and
Stockyards Act. (a) The Secretary of Agriculture
(Secretary) shall, consistent with the Act, and all
other applicable law:

(i) prioritize and expand investigations into potential violations of the
Act by packers and other covered entities, with particular attention to
unfair, unjustly discriminatory, or deceptive practices; undue or
unreasonable preferences or advantages; and practices that restrain
commerce or manipulate prices;

(ii) increase resources, staffing, and investigative capacity within the
Packers and Stockyards Division of the Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Agricultural Marketing Service, the USDA Office of General Counsel, and the
USDA Office of Inspector General;

(iii) coordinate closely with the Department of Justice (DOJ), in keeping
with the September 26, 2025, memorandum of understanding between the USDA
and the DOJ Antitrust Division, to refer cases for appropriate enforcement
and to pursue complementary antitrust actions where appropriate; and

(iv) within 60 days of the date of this order, submit to the President a
report detailing current enforcement actions, resource needs, and a plan
for heightened enforcement for the coming year.

    (b) The Secretary shall review existing
regulations, guidance, and enforcement policies under
the Act and, as appropriate and consistent with
applicable law, revise them to strengthen protections
for producers and ensure effective deterrence of
prohibited conduct.

Sec. 3. Expanding Interstate Market Access for Eligible
Meat Products. (a) The Secretary shall take actions
consistent with applicable law to expand opportunities
for interstate shipment of meat products, including by:

(i) accelerating outreach and streamlining processes to increase State
participation in the USDA's State Meat and Poultry Inspection Program, the

Cooperative Interstate Shipment Program, and the Talmadge-Aiken Cooperative
Inspection Program;

(ii) creating technical assistance and training programs for small and very
small meat processors;

(iii) establishing, or collaborating with partners to establish, an easily
accessible web resource with comprehensive information regarding local meat
slaughter and processing availability, including federally inspected
establishments that facilitate interstate shipment;

(iv) modernizing meat inspection to sharpen focus on core food safety,
boost processing efficiency and technology, and lower costs to add value
for ranchers and consumers;

(v) removing unnecessary Food Safety Inspection Service inspection
reporting requirements and overly prescriptive requirements, consistent
with applicable law, that do not advance essential food safety needs; and

(vi) establishing a coordinator position within USDA to implement these
actions and serve as a conduit to ranchers and small and medium sized
processors.

    (b) Within 60 days of the date of this order, the
Secretary shall submit to the President a report
assessing current participation in the State-Federal
cooperative inspection programs, identifying remaining
statutory or regulatory barriers to greater interstate
market access for State-inspected products, and
providing recommendations for action to address any
such challenges.
    (c) Within 60 days of the date of this order, the
Secretary shall submit to the President a report
identifying Federal statutory provisions, as well as
trade considerations, that restrict or prohibit State-
inspected or custom exempt meat products from entering
interstate commerce.
    (d) The Secretary shall take actions as appropriate
and consistent with applicable law to establish a
Strengthening Processing for U.S. Ranchers guaranteed
loan program for small and regional beef processors to
help these processors continue operation, expand their
footprint, and increase diversity of animal proteins
being processed.

Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order
shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or
the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

    (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with
applicable law and subject to the availability of
appropriations.

    (c) This order is not intended to, and does not,
create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural,
enforceable at law or in equity by any party against
the United States, its departments, agencies, or
entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any
other person.
    (d) The costs for publication of this order shall
be borne by the Department of Agriculture.

    (Presidential Sig.)

THE WHITE HOUSE,

    September 4, 2026.