President Trump Plans To Sign Executive Order To Keep Meat Plants Open

President Donald Trump is planning to sign an executive order that would designate meat plants as critical infrastructure, allowing him to use the Defense Production Act to force them to stay open during the coronavirus pandemic.

The decision was made after Tyson Foods Chairman John Tyson warned in an open letter that the country's "food supply chain is breaking." He explained that with many plants across the country forced to close down because their workers contracted COVID-19, ranchers and farmers are being forced to discard millions of pounds of meat because they have nowhere to sell it.

In the past two months, 22 plants across the country have temporarily closed, resulting in a reduction of the pork processing capacity by 25% and beef processing capacity by 10%, according to Bloomberg. The White House estimated that as many as 80% of food processing plants across could close down, which might result in fresh meat shortages in the next few weeks as the existing supply begins to run low.

Labor groups are concerned that forcing the plants to remain open could pose a risk to workers and their families.

"At the same time, we have heard both federal and state elected leaders refer to these workers as essential, yet they are not being provided the essential protections they need to do their jobs safely. For the sake of these essential workers' lives, and the safety of our food supply, this must change immediately, and we must prioritize the safety and protection of all grocery workers and workers in meatpacking and food processing plants," the United Foods and Commercial Workers International Union wrote in a letter to Vice President Mike Pence.

The Trump administration is aware of their concerns and is working with the Department of Labor to come up with safety and social distancing guidelines. In addition, they are working to provide meat plants with testing kits and protective equipment for all the workers.

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