President Trump's Executive Order on Meat Processing

This Abridge News topic aggregates four unique arguments on different sides of the debate. Here are the quick facts to get you started:

THE QUICK FACTS

• On April 28th, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at restoring the meat supply chain by classifying meat products under the Defense Production Act (DPA) and providing liability protection to meat processing plants that abide by CDC and OSHA guidelines. Trump noted that he had consulted with Tyson Foods before the order was written.
• Despite the headlines, the executive order itself does not actually order meat processing plants to do anything; rather, it incentivizes plants to reopen and gives Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue the authority to reopen plants "to promote the national defense."
• American meat production has fallen dramatically due to the pandemic, with meat industry companies considering keeping just 20% of plants open. Beef and pork production are already down 35% from this time last year, and chicken production is down 7% (WSJ). Since the executive order, seven more plants have shut down.
• As of May 6th, over 10,000 coronavirus cases have been linked to meat processing plants. At least 45 workers have died so far. (USA Today)

CLICK TO VIEW OPINIONS ranging from Critical of the Order to Supportive of the Order