Donald Trump Under Pressure Over Rising Egg Prices

A group of over 30 House Democrats has urged President Donald Trump to take action on skyrocketing egg prices, which have left American households struggling to take hold of this traditionally beloved, protein-rich staple.

"Over the last several weeks, you have done nothing to address these rising costs. Moreover, your flurry of executive actions has hampered the government's response to effectively address the underlying causes of this crisis," 33 House Democrats wrote in a letter addressed to Trump and sent on Thursday. "...Eggs are a basic necessity for families in our districts, and the financial burden caused by these surging prices must be resolved."

Newsweek contacted Representative Jimmy Gomez, a California Democrat who led the letter, his Congressional Dads Caucus, and the White House for comment by email on Friday morning outside of standard working hours.

Why It Matters

The average price of a dozen Grade A eggs in the United States has reached a record high of $4.95 last month, according to government figures released on Wednesday, beating the previous record of $4.82 set two years ago. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) said it was "the largest increase in the eggs index since June 2015 and it accounted for about two thirds of the total monthly food at home increase."

Over the past several weeks, consumers across the country have noticed with certain dismay that eggs are getting harder to find and when they're on the shelves their price tag is much higher than it used to.

The bird flu that has been ravaging U.S. flocks since the virus outbreak began in February 2022 is mostly responsible for the shortages and price increases. While Trump promised to lower the cost-of-living for American households during his 2024 presidential campaign, he hasn't outlined a plan to contain the virus.

What to Know

In the letter sent to the president on Thursday, House Democrats asked Trump to act quickly "to lower egg prices, protect farmers, and prevent further strain on families."

"Mr. President, you've promised the American people that you would lower grocery prices. It's time to deliver," the lawmakers wrote. "Families across the country cannot afford more delays or inaction. This is about the health, nutrition, and financial stability of millions of Americans who are already struggling."

Many of the House Democrats who wrote the letter are members of the Congressional Dads Caucus, a group of 35 parents in Congress led by Gomez. The group, formed in 2023, fights "for family friendly policies, including affordable childcare, paid family leave and the enhanced Child Tax Credit," according to Gomez on his website.

The letter was signed by Gomez and Democratic Representatives:

• Don Beyer of Virginia
• Joaquin Castro of Texas
• Gil Cisneros of California
• Lou Correa of California
• Jason Crow of Colorado
• Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania
• Dan Goldman of New York
• Steven Horsford of Nevada,
• Mike Levin of California)
• Ted Lieu of California,
• Seth Magaziner of Rhode Island
• Morgan McGarvey of Kentucky
• Rob Menendez of New Jersey
• Dave Min of California
• Seth Moulton of Massachusetts
• Johnny Olszewski of Maryland
• Jimmy Panetta of California
• Brittany Pettersen of Colorado
• Raul Ruiz of California
• Suhas Subramanyam of Virginia
• Eric Swalwell of California
• Rashida Tlaib of Michigan
• Derek Tran of California
• Sylvester Turner of Texas
• Marc Veasey of Texas
• Eugene Vindman of Virginia
• Brendan F. Boyle of Pennsylvania
• Timothy Kennedy of New York
• George Whitesides of California
• Kevin Mullin of California
• Joe Neguse of Colorado
• Brad Sherman of California

According to the group of House Democrats, Trump's executive actions since taking office on January 20 have actually hindered the "government's response to effectively address the underlying causes of this crisis."

The bird flu has decimated the number of egg-laying hens in the country. Every time a case of bird flu is found in a farm, all the birds have to be culled to prevent the spread of the virus. At least 100 million chickens have been killed since early 2022, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in late January.

"Because the price of eggs is inextricably linked to the avian flu, we are deeply concerned by your previous statements calling to disband the Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy (OPPR)," the House Democrats wrote. "Furthermore, your decision to pause communications coming from federal health agencies has exacerbated the situation."

The letter continues: "We are aware that your administration has already shut down the OPPR website, further limiting transparency and access to crucial information, making it harder for farmers and public health officials to respond effectively.

"Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's inability to produce its weekly report delayed two publications related to the bird flu since your order. Your actions are directly contributing to this affordability crisis facing American families."

There's another factor currently exacerbating the crisis, and that's legislation present in nearly a dozen states across the nation banning or limiting the sale of eggs from caged chickens which is limiting supply.

What People Are Saying

Representative Jimmy Gomez wrote on Instagram on Thursday: "The bird flu is threatening our food supply, and eggs are disappearing from shelves..."

The Congressional Dads Caucus Instagram account posted Thursday: "President Trump, you promised to lower costs on day 1 in office—so where's the action? Families are struggling, and grocery prices keep climbing. Americans need action, not excuses."

Representative Kevin Mullin, a California Democrat, wrote on X, formerly Twitter on Thursday: "Thanks to Dads Caucus Chair @RepJimmyGomez for leading on this letter demanding action on egg prices & bird flu. We've seen multiple cases of H5N1 in the Bay Area, including it spreading to a domestic stray cat."

President Donald Trump told Time magazine in a December interview about higher prices: "I'd like to bring them down. It's hard to bring things down once they're up. You know, it's very hard. But I think that they will [...] I think that energy is going to bring them down. I think a better supply chain is going to bring them down."

Commenting on rising inflation last month, the president wrote on Truth Social: "BIDEN INFLATION UP!"

Vice President JD Vance told CBS News in an interview in January: "Prices are going to come down, but it's going to take a little bit of time, right? Rome wasn't built in a day."

What Happens Next?

Unfortunately, egg prices are expected to continue soaring this year. Last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) predicted a 20 percent hike throughout 2025.

The letter signed by House Democrats asks the Trump administration to roll back "harmful" executive actions and take "immediate steps" to control the spread of bird flu, as well as provide clarity on the future of OPPR.