In a recent appearance on CBS News’ Face the Nation, former Trump administration official Kevin Hassett, who served as the Director of the National Economic Council, criticized the Biden Administration’s approach to combating avian flu, claiming that its strategy of mass culling chickens is a key factor behind the rising cost of eggs.
Hassett argued that the Biden Administration’s decision to “randomly” kill chickens in response to the outbreak of avian flu was not only ineffective but contributed directly to the soaring prices and scarcity of eggs. He shared his perspective during an in-depth conversation with CBS host Margaret Brennan, offering both his personal observations and policy insights.
“Biden’s Plan Was to Just… Kill Chickens”
Hassett wasted no time in expressing his frustration with the current administration’s handling of the avian flu crisis. He explained that the Biden Administration’s strategy of culling chickens within a set perimeter where sick birds were found only worsened the situation.
“The Biden plan was to just… kill chickens,” Hassett remarked, adding that billions of dollars had been spent on this method, which he described as “random” and ineffective. He noted that chickens, in many cases, were culled even if they weren’t directly affected by the flu, a move he claimed exacerbated the crisis.
The former economic advisor continued by emphasizing how the approach failed to address the root cause of the problem. “They spent billions of dollars just randomly killing chickens within a perimeter where they found a sick chicken,” he explained. According to Hassett, the result was not just a loss of poultry but a significant disruption to the egg supply, which led to the increase in egg prices seen across the country.
Hassett’s Grocery Store Insight
Drawing from his own recent experiences, Hassett highlighted the real-world impact of the egg price surge. He recounted a visit to his local grocery store where he observed the ongoing shortage. “I shop for our family, in part because I love to look at prices,” he said. “And there were no eggs at the store yesterday, just a few.”
This firsthand experience reinforced his belief that the Biden Administration’s chicken-culling strategy was a major factor behind the egg shortage. Hassett pointed to the fact that eggs were still hard to find despite efforts to curb the spread of avian flu, implying that these efforts were ineffective in halting the disease while also damaging the poultry industry.
A Call for Smarter Biosecurity Measures
Turning his attention to potential solutions, Hassett suggested that more sophisticated biosecurity measures and smarter containment strategies could help address the problem without resorting to widespread culling. He explained that rather than killing chickens within a large perimeter, authorities should focus on more targeted approaches, such as medication and enhanced security protocols, to contain the virus.
“What we need to do is have better ways, with biosecurity and medication and so on, to make sure that the perimeter doesn’t have to kill the chickens,” Hassett argued. “Have a better, smarter perimeter.”
He further explained that the Trump Administration had been working on these more advanced strategies with input from the best scientists in the government, which, in his view, could have prevented the current crisis if implemented earlier. “That’s the kind of thing that should have happened a year ago,” he remarked, implying that had these measures been adopted sooner, egg prices would be significantly lower.
The Role of Wild Birds in the Spread of Avian Flu
In an interesting turn, Hassett also pointed out that the spread of avian flu was being largely driven by wild birds, particularly ducks and geese, which carry the virus across large distances. He criticized the administration for targeting chickens, which he argued are less likely to spread the virus.
“By the way, it’s spread mostly by ducks and geese,” he said, before raising an important question. “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?”
Hassett’s comments were aimed at underscoring what he perceived as a flawed approach that ignored the primary carriers of the virus. He questioned the logic behind eliminating chickens while wild birds, which travel and migrate over vast areas, continue to propagate the disease.
Conclusion
Hassett’s appearance on Face the Nation provided a pointed critique of the Biden Administration’s handling of the avian flu outbreak and its impact on the egg industry. His comments emphasized the consequences of the current administration’s policies, urging the need for a more targeted and effective strategy that could both protect the poultry industry and stabilize egg prices.
While the avian flu continues to be a significant concern, Hassett’s insights suggest that alternative solutions, such as smarter biosecurity and a focus on the true spreaders of the virus, may offer a more sustainable approach to addressing the crisis and alleviating the pressure on consumers facing rising egg prices.
James Anderson is a seasoned journalist and the primary author of many articles on usaunfiltered24.com. With a keen eye for current events and trends, James has built a reputation for delivering timely, insightful content on a wide range of topics, from breaking news to popular culture. His ability to simplify complex issues and present them in an engaging way has made him one of the go-to writers for readers seeking reliable information. With years of experience in the media industry, James is known for his thorough research and commitment to providing readers with accurate and up-to-date news, making him a trusted voice in the world of journalism.