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DOJ Launches Criminal Antitrust Probe Into Major Meatpackers Amid Rising Beef Prices

By  |  April 20, 2026

The Justice Department’s antitrust division has opened a criminal investigation into whether major meatpacking companies engaged in anticompetitive practices that may have affected U.S. consumers and ranchers, according to the Wall Street Journal.

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    The probe follows calls from President Donald Trump, who urged federal authorities last year to examine pricing practices in the beef industry. In November, Trump publicly alleged that large meatpackers were manipulating cattle prices and inflating costs for consumers. “I have asked the DOJ to immediately begin an investigation into the Meat Packing Companies who are driving up the price of Beef through illicit collusion, price fixing, and price manipulation,” he said at the time.

    Criminal antitrust investigations are typically reserved for serious allegations such as price fixing, market collusion, or bid rigging. Per the Wall Street Journal, the Justice Department is now assessing whether such violations may have occurred within the highly concentrated meatpacking sector.

    Trump also defended domestic cattle producers while criticizing large processors, stating, “We will always protect our American ranchers, and they are being blamed for what is being done by majority foreign-owned meat packers, who artificially inflate prices and jeopardize the security of our nation’s food supply.”

    Read more: Senate Democrats Target Meatpacking Giants With New Antitrust Bill

    The investigation comes as beef prices in U.S. supermarkets have surged to record levels. Industry analysts point to years of drought and rising input costs, which have contributed to the smallest U.S. cattle herd in decades. Trade policies have also played a role; tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on Brazilian beef imports have limited supply, further tightening the market.

    The structure of the industry has drawn increasing scrutiny from lawmakers. Representative Thomas Massie has highlighted the dominance of a small group of companies, noting that “Four meat packers control 85 percent of the meat processed in the U.S.”

    Meanwhile, legislative efforts are underway to address concerns about consolidation. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, along with a group of lawmakers, has proposed a bill that would require major meatpackers to separate their beef, pork, and poultry operations, aiming to increase competition in the market.

    According to the Wall Street Journal, the Justice Department’s investigation is part of broader efforts by the administration to address affordability challenges as economic pressures continue to weigh heavily on lower-income households.

    Source: The Wall Street Journal