California’s egg prices are cracking under federal scrutiny. The Trump Justice Department has launched a bold lawsuit against the state, targeting a regulation it says inflates costs for eggs, poultry, and pork nationwide. This move signals a no-nonsense push to ease the financial strain on American families.
The Daily Wire reported that the lawsuit, filed Wednesday, zeroes in on Proposition 12, a 2018 California law that tightened standards for raising chickens, pigs, and calves.
It names Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta as defendants, accusing the state of overstepping its bounds. The action aligns with President Trump’s first-day executive order to tackle the cost-of-living crisis.
Proposition 12, passed by California voters in 2018 and effective since 2022, mandates stricter animal welfare standards for vendors selling in the state. The Justice Department argues it disrupts federal law, specifically the Egg Products Inspection Act of 1970, which sets national standards for egg products. California’s rules, they claim, jack up prices far beyond its borders.
Egg prices have been a rollercoaster, peaking at $8.17 per dozen in March amid a bird flu outbreak, then dropping to $2.54 by July.
Yet Proposition 12 has kept costs high, with pork prices up 20% and egg prices spiking by as much as $10 in some cases since 2022. These hikes hit wallets hard, especially for families already stretched thin.
The lawsuit pulls no punches, stating California’s rules block farmers nationwide from using cost-effective methods. “Through a combination of voter initiatives, legislative enactments, and regulations, California has effectively prevented farmers across the country from using several agricultural production methods which were in widespread use,” it reads.
These methods, the lawsuit notes, “helped keep eggs affordable” before Proposition 12 meddled. California’s high-minded standards sound noble, but end up punishing consumers and farmers alike. The feds are calling foul, saying states shouldn’t dictate national markets.
Proposition 12 didn’t sprout from nowhere—it was backed by $13 million from groups like Mercy for Animals and the Center for Biological Diversity.
These anti-meat activists pushed hard for the law, framing it as a win for animal welfare. But the Center for the Environment and Welfare’s “Food Price Fix” campaign argues it’s just a costly agenda dressed up as compassion.
The Center for the Environment and Welfare’s report slams Proposition 12 as unpopular even among Californians. “These overreaching laws are a classic example of bad California mandates,” said Executive Director Jack Hubbard. He’s not wrong—when a state’s rules hike prices for everyone, it’s tough to call that a public good.
Hubbard’s take cuts deeper: “Right now, people who have never stepped foot in California are paying the price for Prop 12.” It’s a zinger that lands because it’s true—why should Iowa farmers or Ohio shoppers subsidize California’s moralizing? The lawsuit aims to level that playing field.
Attorney General Pam Bondi is leading the charge, tying the lawsuit to broader economic relief. “Americans across the country have suffered the consequences of liberal policies, causing massive inflation for everyday items like eggs,” she said. Her words frame this as a fight against progressive overreach, not just a legal spat.
Bondi’s pledge to “use the full extent of federal law” signals a muscular approach. “Under President Trump’s leadership, we will ensure that American families are free from oppressive regulatory burdens,” she added. It’s a promise that resonates with those fed up with red tape driving up grocery bills.
Still, California’s defenders might argue that Proposition 12 protects animals and sets a higher standard. Yet when those standards price out the average family, it’s hard to see the virtue. The lawsuit questions whether one state’s ideals should trump everyone else’s budgets.
President Trump’s executive order set the tone, prioritizing relief from the cost-of-living crisis. This lawsuit is a direct extension, targeting regulations that burden consumers and farmers alike. It’s a calculated move to show results where it counts—at the checkout counter.
The Center for the Environment and Welfare’s “Food Price Fix” campaign underscores the stakes, spotlighting how activist-driven laws ripple outward. Proposition 12’s defenders may cry animal rights, but the data shows real pain for consumers. A 20% pork price hike isn’t compassion—it’s a policy misfire.
