US Senators Urge Fast Action on Bird Flu Vaccine as Outbreak Worsens

Post by : Saif Nasser

A group of U.S. senators from both major political parties is calling on the Trump administration to move faster in preparing a science-based bird flu vaccine for livestock. Their appeal comes at a time when the country is facing one of its most serious animal health crises in recent history.

Since 2022, more than 180 million chickens, turkeys, and other birds have died because of the ongoing bird flu outbreak. These losses have deeply affected farmers, driven up the price of eggs, and created fear across the poultry industry. While the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said in June that it was working on a national vaccination plan, the agency has still not shared how or when the plan will be finalized.

In a letter sent on Wednesday to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, 23 senators urged the USDA to take “renewed action” as bird flu cases rise with the winter season approaching. This bipartisan group includes Democrats and Republicans, showing that the concern is shared across political lines.

The letter was led by Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, the top Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Committee, and Senator Mike Rounds, a Republican from South Dakota. Other signatories include Senate Majority Leader John Thune and several members of the Agriculture Committee.

The senators stressed that any final vaccine plan must be guided by science and developed with input from veterinarians, industry leaders, and animal health experts. They also highlighted the need for transparency so that farmers and exporters understand how vaccination might affect trade.

Earlier this year, the USDA promised $100 million for bird flu vaccine research for egg-laying chickens. The department received more than 400 proposals for how that money should be used. But since June, there has been no update on which projects were chosen or how the vaccination strategy will move forward.

Adding to the confusion, the Trump administration canceled a $700 million contract with Moderna in May that would have created a human bird flu vaccine. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has long been known for his anti-vaccination views, has also ended other federal vaccine programs and removed long-standing vaccine guidance. These decisions have raised concerns about whether the government is prepared to deal with both animal and human health risks linked to bird flu.

The poultry industry itself is divided on the idea of vaccinating birds. Some farmers believe a vaccine is necessary to control the outbreak. Others worry it could damage export markets, because some countries restrict imports from vaccinated animals. The senators urged Secretary Rollins to talk with trading partners and producers to fully understand the possible trade effects of any vaccine plan.

In late November, the USDA confirmed that it had not yet shared a vaccination plan with international trade partners. For many farmers, this creates uncertainty and makes it harder to plan ahead.

The situation highlights a larger challenge: finding a balance between protecting American farms from disease and maintaining healthy trade relationships. As winter sets in and infections continue to grow, pressure is building for the USDA to deliver a clear and science-based path forward.

For now, lawmakers, farmers, and consumers are waiting for the federal government to take stronger steps to control an outbreak that has already caused huge economic and agricultural losses.