The Trump administration sues California over egg prices.

According to CCTV International News, the U.S. government filed a lawsuit against California on July 9th local time regarding regulations on eggs and chicken farms, accusing the state's anti-cruelty animal laws of creating "unnecessary red tape" leading to a rise in egg prices nationwide. California has not yet responded to this accusation. The lawsuit was filed in the federal court in Los Angeles, claiming that the 1970 Federal Egg Products Inspection Act should take precedence over state laws. This federal law authorizes the USDA and HHS to regulate egg products to ensure consumer health and maintain national safety standards. California has implemented various regulations for chicken farms, including prohibiting farmers from keeping hens in cramped conditions where they cannot "stand up, lie down, stretch their limbs, or turn around freely." These state laws are aimed at reducing animal abuse and foodborne disease risks. However, the federal government emphasizes in the lawsuit that only the federal government has the authority to regulate egg product safety. Additionally, while California can regulate its own chicken farms, it cannot impose additional requirements on eggs shipped to the state from other states.