Egg Fight Escalates: Trump Administration Takes California to Court Over Controversial Hen Laws

A legal clash over chickens is ruffling feathers across the U.S. food industry, as the Trump administration takes aim at California’s tough egg laws. In a high-stakes lawsuit filed in federal court this week, the Department of Justice accused the state of overstepping its bounds and triggering a spike in egg prices with what it calls burdensome and unconstitutional regulations.

Source: LosAngelesTimes

At the heart of the dispute are California’s Proposition 12 and AB 1437 — laws that demand more space for egg-laying hens and set strict standards for eggs sold in the state, regardless of where they’re produced. The DOJ says these rules have effectively rewritten the rules of the egg industry nationwide, forcing out longstanding practices and squeezing farmers from Iowa to Indiana.

In its complaint, the administration argues that California’s actions violate the Egg Products Inspection Act by imposing its own inspection, packaging, and labeling standards — powers the federal government insists belong solely to Washington. The result, it claims, is a “nationwide ripple effect” of red tape and rising prices.

“This is not just about California hens. It’s about federal authority, food costs, and the limits of state power,” a senior DOJ official said.

Supporters of California’s laws argue they are essential for animal welfare and consumer transparency. But the federal government sees them as a sweeping overreach — one that could set a precedent for states dictating national standards.

As the case unfolds in the Central District of California, it’s more than just egg farmers watching closely. The outcome could redefine how much power states have to regulate what ends up on America’s plates.