USDA Proposes Increasing Slaughter Line Speeds, Putting Workers and Animals at Risk

The new rules would allow slaughterhouses to move even faster, despite concerns over worker safety and animal welfare.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture has proposed a new policy that would allow slaughterhouses to significantly increase the speed of their kill lines, from 140 birds per minute to 175 for chickens and from 55 birds per minute to 60 for turkeys. For pigs, there would be no speed limit at all. Labor advocates warn this will make one of the country's most dangerous jobs even more unsafe, while animal welfare groups worry it could lead to more botched slaughter. The USDA has also proposed ending the requirement for these slaughter plants to publish annual reports on worker safety.

Why it matters

This policy change comes despite growing concerns over worker safety and animal welfare in the meat processing industry. Slaughterhouse workers already face high rates of injuries like cuts, lacerations, and carpal tunnel syndrome, and the increased line speeds could exacerbate these issues. Animal welfare groups also fear the faster lines will make it more difficult for workers to properly stun animals, leading to further suffering.

The details

The new draft rules would allow slaughterhouses that participate in certain inspection systems to move even faster than they already do. Chicken slaughterhouses would be able to increase kill line speeds from 140 birds per minute to 175, a 25% increase. Turkey slaughterhouses would be able to accelerate from 55 birds per minute to 60. For pig slaughterhouses, there would be no speed limit at all, up from the current maximum of 1,106 pigs per hour.

  • The USDA has proposed these new rules, which are currently open for public comment until April 20, 2026.

The players

USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, the federal agency responsible for developing and proposing these new slaughter line speed rules.

Duane Stateler

President of the National Pork Producers Council, a trade group that has voiced support for the USDA's proposed rules.

Magaly Licolli

Cofounder and director of the poultry worker advocacy group Venceremos, who has expressed concerns that the increased line speeds could compromise food safety.

Debbie Berkowitz

Former chief of staff and senior policy adviser at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) under the Obama administration, who has criticized the USDA for not requiring companies to increase staffing to compensate for faster line speeds.

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What’s next

The USDA is accepting public comments on the proposed rules until April 20, 2026. After that, the agency is expected to finalize the new regulations, though it's unclear when that will happen.

The takeaway

This policy change highlights the ongoing tension between the meat industry's push for efficiency and the need to protect worker safety and animal welfare. The USDA's proposal, if implemented, would further prioritize industry interests over the well-being of slaughterhouse employees and the animals they process.