Agency proposes virtual elimination of slaughter line speed limits, placing animals, workers and consumers at risk
WASHINGTON (Feb. 18, 2026)—Humane World for Animals and Humane World Action Fund, formerly called Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund, strongly condemn a new proposal by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that seeks to allow slaughterhouses to set their own limits on how fast poultry and pigs can be killed at industrial slaughter facilities. These proposed rules aim to deregulate animal slaughter, despite overwhelming evidence that higher line speeds increase the risk of extreme animal suffering, endanger workers and threaten food safety.
At present, chicken slaughterhouses standardly operate at speeds of up to 140 birds per minute, with many facilities operating under COVID-era waivers to kill up to 175 birds per minute. Pig slaughter facilities are capped at 1,106 animals per hour, except for the six places that have a waiver to operate using higher speeds. Under these new USDA proposals, limits would be lifted entirely for swine slaughter and would increase the baseline speed for poultry, institutionalizing a system that prioritizes corporate profit over animal welfare and worker safety. Even the federal government’s own studies released in 2025 have found increased risks of musculoskeletal injuries among pork and poultry plant workers at higher speeds.
“Accelerated slaughter line speeds are a harsh recipe for cruelty and chaos,” said Kitty Block, president and CEO of Humane World for Animals. “We already know what can happen when corners are cut: birds are boiled alive in scalding tanks, pigs are butchered while still conscious, and workers suffer higher rates of debilitating injuries, while food safety is compromised. This is the exact opposite of both compassion and sound judgment. The USDA is sacrificing humane standards and workplace safety to satisfy industry demands even while claiming this is good for consumers.”
Slaughterhouse workers experience double the rate of serious injury and illness rates six times higher than the average for all industries, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Forcing workers to process animals faster also increases the risk of contaminated meat being introduced into the U.S. food supply.
“This is a reckless, heartless and deeply irresponsible move by the Trump administration,” said Sara Amundson, president of Humane World Action Fund. “Industry lobbyists support this proposal under the weak pretense of modernization, cutting through red tape and upholding safety standards. This is nothing more than Orwellian doublespeak that guarantees more cruelty, more injuries and more risk for animals and human beings.”
For nearly 70 years, the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act has been the law that sets a basic measure of humane treatment in slaughter plants, but its protections are historically weak, unevenly enforced and have failed to keep pace with public expectations on animal welfare. It’s past time for stronger, enforceable standards to ensure that the way meat is processed reflects both modern science and the humane values most Americans share.
Media Contact: Liz Bartolomeo, Humane World Action Fund, (240) 742-0475, ebartolomeo@humaneaction.org
