Luján Presses Agriculture Secretary Rollins on New World Screwworm

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, pressed Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins on the New World screwworm that has now been detected in Lea County, New Mexico. At a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing, Senator Luján questioned Secretary Rollins on the impacts of staffing cuts on the response to the spread, the federal government's response, and USDA's commitment to prioritizing impacted states. Full video of the exchange is available here

"Thank you to the New Mexico Department of Agriculture, our state health, livestock, and wildlife agencies, NMSU Cooperative Extension Service, and USDA APHIS for working around the clock to provide resources to fight the spread of the New World screwworm in New Mexico," said Senator Luján.

"The New World screwworm outbreak poses a serious threat to New Mexico's cattle and livestock industry, and we must act decisively to stop the spread of this dangerous pest. Protecting livestock across the state requires investing in proven methods - like the sterile fly technique - to prevent the further spread in the United States. That's why I led the STOP Screwworms Act back in May of last year to address this growing threat and will continue to fight to ensure we contain the spread of the New World screwworm," continued Senator Luján.

In May of 2025, prior to the current outbreak reaching the United States, Senator Luján introducedthe bipartisan Strengthening Tactics to Obstruct the Population of Screwworms (STOP Screwworms) Act, legislation to combat the spread of the New World screwworm.

Following the introduction of Senator Luján's STOP Screwworms Act in May 2025, the legislation brought attention to the outbreak and USDA completed the construction of a U.S.-based sterile fly dispersal facility in Edinburg, Texas to combat the spread. As a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, addressing the New World screwworm spread is a priority for Senator Luján and he will continue to work to stop the spread of the dangerous pest.

For information on identifying infestations, reporting suspected cases, and connecting with experts, visit:

• New World Screwworm Awareness for New Mexico
• USDA's Response to Combat the New World Screwworm

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