The Trump Justice Department filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the State of California, targeting its controversial animal welfare law known as Proposition 12. The federal lawsuit, which also names Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta, alleges that the law drives up the cost of essential food items like eggs, pork, and poultry—not just in California, but across the country.
Proposition 12, passed by California voters in 2018 and fully implemented in 2022, mandates that producers must adhere to strict animal confinement standards if they want to sell their products in California. The law applies even to out-of-state farmers and suppliers, effectively imposing California’s agricultural standards nationwide.
“Through a combination of voter initiatives, legislative enactments, and regulations, California has effectively prevented farmers across the country from using a number of agricultural production methods which were in widespread use — and which helped keep eggs affordable,” the lawsuit states.
The suit aligns with President Donald Trump’s executive order to combat the rising cost of living, issued on his first day back in office. With egg prices having dropped from over $8 per dozen during the peak of the avian flu crisis to $2.54 in July, the Trump administration is framing this legal challenge as part of a broader push to ensure food affordability.
Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized the economic stakes: “Americans across the country have suffered the consequences of liberal policies causing massive inflation for everyday items like eggs. Under President Trump’s leadership, we will use the full extent of federal law to ensure that American families are free from oppressive regulatory burdens and restore American prosperity.”
Central to the Justice Department’s case is the claim that Proposition 12 conflicts with the Egg Products Inspection Act of 1970, which sets national standards for egg safety and distribution. Federal officials argue California has overstepped its constitutional bounds by dictating farming practices beyond its borders.
Critics of Proposition 12 say the law was pushed through with significant financial backing from anti-meat activist groups. A report from the Center for the Environment and Welfare found that organizations such as Mercy for Animals and the Center for Biological Diversity spent over $13 million to lobby for the measure. These groups openly advocate for plant-based diets and the dismantling of large-scale meat production.
The same report found that Proposition 12 has raised the price of pork by 20% and has pushed the price of eggs to as high as $10 per dozen in some California markets.
“These overreaching laws are a classic example of bad California mandates,” said Jack Hubbard, Executive Director of the Center for the Environment and Welfare. “Right now, people who have never stepped foot in California are paying the price for Prop 12. American families and farmers shouldn’t be forced to foot the bill for the Golden State’s mistakes.”
The Trump administration’s legal challenge could have significant implications not only for agricultural policy but also for state sovereignty and interstate commerce.
