U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has unveiled a comprehensive strategy to tackle the ongoing egg shortage, exacerbated by a severe avian influenza outbreak and ongoing supply chain disruptions.
The plan, Rollins said in an interview with Fox News, focuses on using the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s funds for enhanced biosecurity measures to safeguard poultry farms against wild birds that are spreading the virus.
Rollins also noted efforts to ease regulatory barriers that have slowed the rebuilding of egg-laying hen populations, citing restrictions that were put in place during previous administrations. As part of these efforts, Nevada has temporarily suspended its cage-free mandates to help alleviate the shortage.
Additionally, the U.S. is exploring short-term solutions, including importing eggs, with a recently announced agreement to bring in 15,000 tons of eggs from Türkiye by June 2025.
The measures come as egg prices have surged sharply, rising 15.2% in January 2025—the largest monthly increase since June 2015. Year-on-year, prices have jumped 53%, and over the past five years, they have soared by 230%, according to the U.S. Department of Labor data.
Rollins stressed that while short-term actions are necessary, the focus must remain on long-term solutions to address the highly pathogenic bird flu that has decimated poultry populations across the country.
The U.S. government is prepared to invest up to $1 billion to address the crisis, Rollins announced on February 26. She emphasized that the efforts represent a “pretty big, massive” plan aimed at stabilizing the egg market and ensuring future supply.