President Donald Trump on Saturday signed an executive order establishing task forces within the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to examine price fixing and other anti-competitive practices in the food industry.
The directive, titled “Addressing Security Risks From Price Fixing and Anti-Competitive Behavior in the Food Supply Chain,” emphasizes the importance of food affordability and reliability as elements of national and economic security.
The order highlights vulnerabilities in various sectors, such as meat processing, seed production, fertilizer, and equipment manufacturing. It references previous civil settlements related to price fixing allegations, which have amounted to tens of millions of dollars.
According to the document, these sectors are susceptible to collusion and other market abuses. It further notes that anti-competitive actions, particularly those involving foreign-controlled corporations, could undermine the stability and affordability of the U.S. food supply.
Under the executive order, the attorney general and the FTC chairman are required to form dedicated task forces within their agencies. These units are tasked with conducting investigations into potential anti-competitive conduct across U.S. food supply chains.
A key focus of the effort will be determining whether foreign ownership or control of food-related industries contributes to higher food costs or poses national security threats.
The task forces have the authority to pursue enforcement actions and develop new regulatory measures if evidence of wrongdoing emerges. In cases where the DOJ task force identifies indications of criminal collusion, the attorney general is instructed to initiate appropriate proceedings, which may include grand jury investigations.
Additionally, the order mandates that the task forces deliver joint progress reports to congressional leaders. These briefings are scheduled to occur twice: once within 180 days of the order’s issuance and again within 365 days.
The reports will be provided to the Speaker of the House, the Senate majority leader, and chairs of relevant committees. However, they must exclude any details about ongoing investigations, prosecutions, regulatory efforts, litigation, or other non-public information related to specific industries.
The briefings may also suggest potential actions for Congress to consider, as deemed appropriate.
This executive action builds on prior efforts by the administration to address concerns in the food sector. In November 2025, Trump called for a DOJ investigation into meatpacking companies suspected of collusion, price fixing, and price manipulation that have contributed to elevated beef prices.
“We will always protect our American Ranchers, and they are being blamed for what is being done by Majority Foreign Owned Meat Packers, who artificially inflate prices and jeopardize the security of our Nation’s food supply,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
The order comes as the president tasked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent with tackling the nation’s cost of living challenges, which is repeatedly cited as a top concern among voters.
, 2025-12-07 15:30:00, , Trending Politics Conservative Breaking News and Commentary, %%https://trendingpoliticsnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/cropped-tp-fav-2-32×32.png, https://trendingpoliticsnews.com/feed/, Cullen McCue
