OPINION:
Democrats have ended their four-year silence on the topic of inflation. After suddenly discovering egg prices are a bit excessive, liberal geniuses barely waited for the snow to melt after Inauguration Day to blame the new president for inflation data collected before he took the oath.
Although it’s true Mr. Trump promised immediate relief from this raid on consumer wallets, the damage done by President Biden’s team ran deeper than anticipated. A true solution will take some time.
According to the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture report, egg prices rose 153% from January 2024 to January 2025. On his way to the Daytona 500 over the weekend, Mr. Trump noted the preexisting supply problem.
“Well, there’s a flu. It came along before I got here. Remember, I’ve been here for three weeks. … I’ve had nothing to do with inflation. This was caused by Biden,” the president said.
He was referring to the avian epidemic that emerged three years ago. Wild birds, migratory waterfowl in particular, picked up a nasty pathogen and carried it to all 50 states. If there is any chance a duck with a case of the sniffles comes anywhere near a poultry farm, the feds condemn the farmer’s entire flock.
It doesn’t matter whether the chickens are healthy. The USDA “require[s] their depopulation” within 48 hours. That’s the euphemism for sending the hens and roosters to the gas chamber. All their eggs must be smashed.
Nearly 160 million chickens have been condemned to death so far, cutting significantly into the 380 million egg-laying hens required to supply America’s restaurants and supermarkets. White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett thinks the existing anti-flu policy is overkill.
“It’s spread mostly by ducks and geese. So, think about it: They’re killing chickens to stop the spread, but chickens don’t really fly,” he explained on “Face the Nation.” He said the government needs to be smarter about how it contains the disease. “Why does it make any sense to have a big perimeter of dead chickens when it’s the ducks and the geese that are spreading it?” Mr. Hassett asked.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has been on the job only since Friday, so it’s premature for the left to blame her for the rules she inherited. Her Day 1 agenda was to “reprioritize unity, equality, meritocracy and colorblind policies” and then work on crafting a sensible avian flu response.
It’s not like this administration isn’t addressing the biggest drivers of inflation. Farm production expenses increased $87 billion on Mr. Biden’s watch, and fuel accounts for a sizable portion of farmers’ budgets — about $17 billion a year.
Mr. Trump established the National Energy Dominance Council and charged it with eliminating the red tape that has hampered oil and gas drilling over the past four years. Increasing the supply of diesel fuel and prioritizing affordable sources of electricity won’t cost as much to keep the henhouse warm.
Mr. Trump’s broader crusade against government waste also reduces the need to keep Uncle Sam’s monetary printing presses running. Shoring up the dollar’s value will eventually lower the cost of borrowing. Since farmers spend $33 billion on interest, action at the Federal Reserve would bring immediate relief.
Combine these sensible moves with a pardon for the condemned hens, and the cost of eggs will eventually return to normal. And the left will have to come up with a new attack.
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