PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
May 6, 2026

CONTACT
Jenna Stanton
USCA Director of Policy and Public Affairs
jenna@wssdc.com
(202) 870-0156

USCA Comments on DOJ’s Investigation into Big 4 Meatpackers

Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) issued the following statement in response to the May 4 joint press conference from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regarding the ongoing investigation into the nation’s largest beef packers:

“USCA has long called for a thorough investigation of anti-competitive behavior by the largest beef packers,” said USCA President Justin Tupper. “We welcomed the opening of an investigation last fall, and we remain supportive of DOJ and USDA continuing that work under new leadership.”

According to Monday’s statement, DOJ and USDA have reviewed more than three million documents and conducted hundreds of interviews across the industry. USCA views this as a positive indication that the investigation is advancing in scope and seriousness.

“We also appreciate DOJ’s encouragement to use its fraud whistleblower rewards program,” President Tupper continued. “Whistleblowers must be protected. Producers need to be able to report what they’re seeing on the ground without fear of any retaliation—especially in cattle-buying deserts where market players are few, and power is concentrated. USDA’s Packers & Stockyards Division was built for exactly this kind of work: making sure cattle markets are fair, competitive, and players are held accountable.”

USCA reiterates our legacy position: investigations into potential market manipulation and anti-competitive conduct are both appropriate and overdue. However, announcements about those investigations must be handled with care.

“America’s cattle producers need functioning, competitive markets and clear, consistent signals,” said President Tupper. “Now more than ever in these high-priced markets, integrity in our supply chain and market system is non-negotiable. It’s the right time to think creatively about how we bolster small and regional processors—give them the tools to play competitively in a marketplace where economies of scale appear essential. We need to work with those folks to set them up for success. We urge DOJ and USDA to keep producers informed with as much transparency as the law allows and to ensure that any remedies target structural problems in the marketplace—not the great American ranchers who raise this nation’s beef.”

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