Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller criticized the U.S. Department of Agriculture's response to a New World screwworm outbreak this week.

The situation threatens the stability of the Texas livestock industry, as the parasite can cause severe tissue damage and death in animals. A failure to contain the outbreak could lead to significant economic losses for ranchers across the state.

The conflict began after a calf in La Pryor, Texas, tested positive for the screwworm on June 4, 2026 [1]. This discovery is particularly alarming because the parasite was eradicated in the U.S. in the 1960s [2].

Miller said the federal response to the discovery is inadequate. He said the USDA is not acting with enough urgency to protect Texas livestock from the threat.

However, the federal government has pushed back against the commissioner's assessment. USDA Secretary Tom Rollins said Miller is "unserious" regarding the screwworm threat [3].

The timing of this public dispute follows a period of political transition for the commissioner. Miller lost his bid for a fourth term in the Republican primary held in March 2026 [3].

Despite the political friction, the biological threat remains. The New World screwworm is a parasitic fly that invades the living flesh of mammals. Because the U.S. has been free of the pest for decades, current containment strategies are under intense scrutiny by state officials.

“The parasite was eradicated in the U.S. in the 1960s.”

The clash between Texas state leadership and the USDA highlights a breakdown in coordination during a biological crisis. While the screwworm represents a genuine veterinary emergency, the public nature of the dispute—compounded by Miller's recent primary loss—suggests that political tensions are complicating the federal and state response to a pest that had been absent from the U.S. for over 60 years.