USDA Launches Initiative to Bring More States into Meat Inspection

Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the Stand-Up Program to provide up to $50 million in new funding to help states start or expand their own meat inspection programs in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The program carries out President Trump’s September 4 Executive Order to expand market access for American meat producers and strengthen the domestic supply chain.

Thirty states currently operate State Meat and Poultry Inspection (MPI) programs and 11 participate in the Cooperative Interstate Shipment (CIS) program. Based on feedback from participating states, high start-up costs can deter states from initiating a state meat inspection program. The Stand-Up Program removes that barrier so more small, very small, and mid-size processors can get inspected and more ranchers have a place to process close to home.

“Under President Trump, we are revitalizing rural America by providing tools that help farmers, rancher, and rural communities thrive. The President directed USDA to open more markets for American ranchers, and we are delivering,” said Secretary Rollins. “Too many states have wanted a food inspection program of their own and could not get past the start-up costs. Now they can. Food safety standards will not move, and more state programs mean more local processing, more competition for the rancher’s cattle, and more American meat on American tables.

“The United States has one of the strongest, most interconnected food safety systems in the world, and our state inspection programs play a big role. State inspection programs share the same mission as FSIS, which is ensuring safe food for American families,” said Under Secretary Dr. Mindy Brashears. “When we invest in our state partners, we’re not just adding processing capacity in rural America. We’re doing it in a way that is practical, backed by science and data, and built to protect public health.”

Why It Matters

State MPI programs must operate “at least equal to” federal food safety standards, and enrolled plants can sell throughout the state. States with existing MPI programs are eligible to join the CIS program and must demonstrate their inspection is “same as” the federal standards.

• The current 30 states participating include: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

Under CIS, state-inspected plants can sell across state lines under the USDA mark of inspection.

• Current 11 states participating include: Indiana, Iowa, Georgia, Maine, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Vermont and Wisconsin.

Every new state partnership adds processing capacity, cuts regulatory burden on small processors, and keeps agricultural dollars in rural communities.

Building on a Record of Delivery

• November 2025: Welcomed Nevada as the 30th State MPI program.
• FY 2025 and FY 2026: Committed $75 million to support state inspection programs, plus $15 million more appropriated by Congress.
• March 2026: Delivered $20 million to cut overtime and holiday inspection fees by 30 percent for small and 75 percent for very small plants.
• July 2026: Welcomed Georgia as the 11th CIS state.

For more information about state inspection programs, visit https://www.fsis.usda.gov/inspection/state-inspection-programs.