A flesh-eating pest is back in Texas because our safety net fell apart
The New World screwworm has returned to the US for the first time in 60 years while politicians point fingers.
Imagine an insect that eats living flesh from the inside out. For 60 years, Americans did not have to worry about this nightmare, but now it is back.
WHAT HAPPENED
The New World screwworm has arrived in Texas. Its larvae crawl into open wounds on livestock and pets, eating them alive.
The United States wiped this pest out in the 1960s. We used a special barrier of sterile flies to keep them from coming back from the south.
But that barrier failed. Now, Democrats and Republicans are blaming each other for letting the defense line break down.
WHAT THE EVIDENCE SHOWS
The US recorded its first screwworm case in 60 years.
- A sterile-fly barrier kept the pest out for decades.
- Congress let funding for pest programs expire in December.
- The fly entered Mexico in 2024 during the Biden administration.
- Former President Trump's team previously funded Texas prevention plans.
THE BIGGER QUESTION
Why does a basic health shield depend on who sits in the White House? Keeping flesh-eating bugs out of our food supply should not be a political game.
Both parties let this barrier decay over many years. When we treat national biosecurity as a bargaining chip, regular farmers pay the price.
THE OTHER SIDE
Republicans say the Biden administration ran the response poorly when the pest crossed the border in 2024. Democrats argue that the funding cuts by Congress in late 2023 tied their hands.
The evidence shows both sides made choices that weakened our guard, making it hard to blame just one party.
WHAT HAPPENS NOW
Texas ranchers must check their herds daily for wounds. If the pest spreads, meat prices could rise and family farms could face ruin.
Scientists are working to rebuild the sterile fly barrier before the bugs move deeper into the country.
WHAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW
- How many ranches in Texas have already been infected?
- Will Congress pass new funding to fix the sterile-fly barrier?
- How long will it take to stop the spread of the pest?
Transparency notes
Published: Jun 11, 2026. No major post-publication update has been logged.
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Sources
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