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DOJ Shut Down Meatpacking Antitrust Probe Weeks Before Trump Demanded New Inquiry

By  |  November 16, 2025

The US Justice Department ended a multi-year antitrust investigation into major meatpackers only weeks before former President Donald Trump called for a new inquiry, according to Bloomberg. People familiar with the matter told Bloomberg that federal officials had recently notified industry participants that the probe—launched during Trump’s first term and carried through the Biden administration—had been formally closed with no findings related to steep price increases during the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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    Trump reignited tensions in the sector late last week when he publicly demanded an immediate investigation into pricing practices at the nation’s largest meat companies. His push, per Bloomberg, has unsettled an industry that believed it had just cleared a significant regulatory hurdle. The new effort is expected to focus on the same companies scrutinized in the previous five-year review.

    National Beef Inc. said it hasn’t been contacted by the Justice Department since Trump’s remarks and emphasized that the earlier inquiry ended without action. Cargill Inc. declined to comment, while Tyson Foods Inc. and JBS NV did not respond to inquiries.

    The renewed attention comes as US beef prices climb to record highs, driven in part by smaller cattle herds. That price surge complicates Trump’s campaign promise to lower grocery costs. According to Bloomberg, Trump has pledged to expand beef imports from Argentina—an idea that has drawn criticism from ranchers wary of foreign competition but has been welcomed by parts of the meat industry hoping for additional supply.

    “I am asking the DOJ to act expeditiously,” Trump said in a social media post. “Action must be taken immediately to protect Consumers, combat Illegal Monopolies, and ensure these Corporations are not criminally profiting at the expense of the American People.”

    Related: Trump Administration Opens Antitrust Probe Into Major Meatpackers Amid Rising Beef Prices

    Bloomberg reports that Trump faulted “majority foreign owned” companies for rising beef costs, despite the fact that Cargill and Tyson are headquartered in the US. National Beef, by contrast, operates as the American arm of Brazil-based MBRF Global Foods Co.

    According to the US Department of Agriculture, Tyson, JBS, Cargill and National Beef collectively control about 85% of the domestic beef-processing market. Another person familiar with the matter told Bloomberg that executives from those firms recently met with officials from the White House National Economic Council to discuss market conditions and the potential impact of expanded Argentine imports on US grocery prices.

    The White House referred questions on the matter to the Justice Department and the USDA. The USDA said it is pursuing policies aimed at reducing beef costs for consumers while supporting American ranchers.

    “These actions coupled with President Trump’s work to secure lasting markets for beef producers abroad sends a strong message to American cattle producers — raise more beef and rebuild the herd,” a USDA spokesperson said.

    Source: Bloomberg