Say NO to USDA’s dangerous plan to increase slaughterhouse line speeds

In February of 2026, The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced proposed updates to rules governing slaughterhouse line speeds for chickens, turkeys, and pigs. In their proposal – also supported by animal agriculture industries – the USDA claims that increasing line speeds for both chickens and turkeys, and completely eliminating line speed regulations in pig slaughterhouses, will “lower costs for American families, reduce outdated regulator barriers for processors, and support a more efficient and resilient food supply.” 
 
However, USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service has ignored public concern over dangerously high slaughterhouse line speeds and if adopted, these rules will make it impossible for slaughterhouses to comply with humane handling and food safety requirements.  

The changes will increase incidents where animals are not properly stunned as required by law and more animals will be fully conscious when they are slaughtered. 
 
Deregulating line speeds will also harm consumers because more meat contaminated with bacteria could get past inspectors, causing more illness and even death. Slaughterhouse workers, who notoriously have one of the most dangerous jobs in the country, would be put at an even greater risk of injury. Increased line speeds also mean more animals are killed, creating more pollution, not just at the slaughterhouse, but at every step of production. 
 
The Animal Legal Defense Fund is working with a coalition of partners to submit detailed comments urging the USDA to reverse their plans due to harms these rules will cause to animal welfare, food safety, public health, worker safety, and the environment. We encourage you to tell the USDA – in your own words – why you oppose these dangerous plans to increase slaughterhouse line speeds.
 
Comments can be brief and will be most effective when you politely share your personal reasons for why you oppose these plans to further deregulate slaughter line speeds.

Here are some simple instructions:

• Go to regulations.gov. There are two separate proposed rules, one for chickens and turkeys, and the other for pigs. Follow the instructions below to comment on each one. 

• Click the blue box that says “Comment.” 

• From there, you can type your comment or, if you prefer, browse and attach a document saved on your computer.  

• Use your own words. Individual and unique comments carry more weight. 

• In the “Tell us about yourself” section below the comment, click on “an individual” as you are commenting on behalf of yourself.  

• Add your email if you want to receive confirmation of your submission.  

The deadline to submit your comments is April 20, 2026.