WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is taking up a new strategy for tackling the ongoing highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak by emphasizing stricter biosecurity measures and vaccinations instead of mass culling of infected flocks.

“What we need to do is have better ways with biosecurity and medication … to make sure that the perimeter doesn’t have to kill the chickens,” said Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, in an interview on CBS’s “Face the Nation” program.

Hassett criticized the Biden administration’s approach of killing birds found within a specified radius of an infected bird, attributing mass culling to the high prices of eggs.

Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller issued a statement applauding the new administration’s decision to shift from poultry depopulations.

“I commend President Donald J. Trump for his decisive action in addressing the catastrophic mishandling of the bird flu outbreak by the Biden administration, which has devastated our nation’s poultry industry and driven up costs for American consumers,” he said.

Miller pointed out that, according to data from the US Department of Agriculture, culling due to HPAI has resulted in the loss of over 150 million birds since 2022, including more than 123 million laying hens.

“The Trump administration’s prioritization of enhanced biosecurity measures and targeted medical interventions — rather than the widespread and costly mass culling of infected flocks — is a commonsense approach,” he added. “While some depopulations may still be necessary in severe cases, this new strategy offers a more sustainable and effective path forward.

“Reducing our reliance on mass culling is critical to protecting both our nation’s food supply and economy. I have full confidence in the leadership of National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett and USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins on this issue. Working together, we can ensure the resilience of our poultry industry and put an end to the unnecessary financial burden placed on American consumers due to the mismanagement of the previous administration.”

In the past week, the USDA issued a conditional license for an avian influenza vaccine.

The National Chicken Council (NCC), however, voiced concern about how HPAI vaccinations may become a barrier to trade.

“Until we have written assurances and trade protections in place with our trading partners, and the definition of ‘poultry’ is changed by the World Organization for Animal Health, the National Chicken Council will continue to oppose vaccination for highly pathogenic avian influenza,” a spokesperson from NCC told MEAT+POULTRY. “We currently support USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’ stamping out’ policy to eradicate the virus.”

Last week, a bipartisan group of Congressmen wrote to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, seeking assurances to protect US chicken exports should vaccinations become a part of the national strategy.

“We strongly agree that as the administration contemplates an HPAI strategy, any such action be predicated with robust trade protections for America’s broiler producers,” NCC said, commenting on the Congressmen’s letter. “The potential export losses that are likely to occur as a result of vaccination would have a devastating impact on thousands of family farmers who raise the birds.”

NCC added that most countries, including the United States, do not consider countries that vaccinate as free from HPAI due to concern that the vaccination only masks the presence of the disease. As such, these countries do not accept exports from countries that vaccinate.