February 18, 2026 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced proposed rules Tuesday that would speed up line speeds at poultry and pork production facilities.

Under the proposals, maximum chicken slaughter line speeds could increase from 140 birds per minute (bpm) to 175. It would also allow turkey processing lines to increase from 55 bpm to 60. The agency also proposed removing the maximum line speed limit for pork processing, and to cut requirements on annual worker safety reports.

In a press release, the administration argues these changes remove “outdated” bottlenecks and will help lower food prices for consumers. But animal welfare and public health groups argue increased line speeds increase the risk of worker injuries and food contamination.

Before introducing these proposals, the USDA under the first Trump administration had granted waivers to select pork and poultry producers to increase line speeds to the newly suggested limits. In March, the Trump administration extended these waivers and indicated they would pursue permanent rulemaking.

The proposed rule is now open to public comment for 60 days. (Link to this post.)

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