Cows eating hay in a farm cowshed
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The return of the screwworm parasite to the U.S. has some politicians trying to figure out who to blame. The fly larvae feed on living flesh, posing a threat to cattle and livestock. Democrats blame spending cuts and fewer inspectors at the USDA. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump's Agriculture secretary says the flies left their containment zone in Panama under former President Joe Biden's administration and moved north through lax immigration enforcement. Scientists say the return was inevitable due to a slowed eradication campaign and the warming planet. The USDA plans to spend over $1 billion to combat the pest, including producing sterile flies to control the population.
