Claim: Is the New World screwworm spreading in the US because of Biden administration policies?

First requested: July 8, 2026 at 5:32 AM
39%

IsItCap Score

Truth Potential Meter

Very Low Credibility

AI consensusWeak

Grader consensus is weak.
Range 15%–90% (spread Δ75).
The graders diverge. Treat the combined score as uncertain and read the sources carefully.
Read analysis summary

OpenAI Grade

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40%

Perplexity Grade

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80%
15%

Google Gemini Grade

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Shareable summary
Verdict: Questionable
  • The Trump administration reopened livestock trade across the southern border in 2025, reversing Biden's ban in…
  • FactCheck.org notes politicians from both parties blame each administration, indicating the claim is political…
/r/new-world-screwworm-biden-policies

Analysis Summary

The claim that the New World screwworm is spreading in the US due to Biden administration policies is mostly false. While some sources attribute the outbreak to changes in immigration and livestock trade policies, many experts and reports indicate that the resurgence is due to a combination of factors, including previous administrative actions and environmental conditions. Critics argue that blaming a single administration oversimplifies the issue and ignores the complexities involved in pest management and agricultural policies. Thus, the evidence does not strongly support the claim that Biden's policies are the primary cause of the outbreak. The models diverge sharply — treat this as higher-uncertainty. Gemini comes in highest (90%), while Perplexity is lowest (15%). Gemini expresses higher confidence than OpenAI on this claim. Opposing sources argue that the New World screwworm's spread cannot be solely attributed to Biden administration policies, citing historical context and the role of previous administrations in livestock trade decisions. They emphasize that environmental factors and pest management practices also play significant roles in the resurgence of the screwworm. This broader perspective suggests that while Biden's policies may have contributed, they are not the sole or primary cause, which complicates the claim's validity and leads to uncertainty regarding its accuracy.
Jump to source analysis

Source quality

Truth (from sources)3.00 / 10
Source reliability6.00 / 10
Source independence5.00 / 10

Claim checks

Fits established facts4.00 / 10
Logical consistency5.00 / 10
Expert consensus4.00 / 10
Related fact checks

Source Analysis

Common arguments
Supporting the claim
  • Trump Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins claims the parasite's movement occurred during Biden's presidency due to open border policies.
  • Senator Roger Marshall asserts millions of immigrants from Central America brought screwworm with them on pets or themselves.
  • The parasite had been moving north from Central America, and Biden closed southern ports in 2024, which critics say failed to stop spread.
Against the claim
  • The Trump administration reopened livestock trade across the southern border in 2025, reversing Biden's ban intended to prevent spread.
  • FactCheck.org notes politicians from both parties blame each administration, indicating the claim is political spin rather than proven fact.
  • USDA data shows the outbreak is linked to resurgence in Central America/Mexico since 2023, not specifically US immigration policy failures.

Mainstream Sources

Publication

thehill.com

Title

Trump administration blames Joe Biden's immigration policies for screwworm

Summary

As cases of New World screwworm spread and threaten the beef and cattle industry, <strong>the Trump administration is rolling out a familiar playbook: blame Joe Biden.</strong>

Source details

Type: Major Media
Secondary Reporting

URL

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Publication

notus.org

Title

Dana Milbank: Who Caused the Screwworm Outbreak? Joe Biden, Of Course. - NOTUS — News of the United States

Summary

Days after the Trump administration took office in 2025, it reopened livestock trade across the southern border, <strong>reversing a ban the Biden administration had put in place to prevent the New World screwworm from spreading to U.S. herds</strong>.

Source details

Type: Blog
OpinionSecondary Reporting

URL

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Publication

newsweek.com

Title

DOGE or Biden? New World Screwworm Blame Game Erupts - Newsweek

Summary

... In an appearance on CNBC&#x27;s ... administration and argued that <strong>the parasite&#x27;s movement from Central America into Mexico and eventually the United States occurred during Biden&#x27;s presidency</strong>....

Source details

Type: Major Media
Secondary Reporting

URL

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Alternative Sources

Publication

factcheck.org

Title

Democrats’ and Republicans’ Screwworm Blame Spin - FactCheck.org

Summary

<strong>Politicians of both political parties have blamed either the Trump or the Biden administration for the arrival of the New World screwworm</strong>, a flesh-eating fly that affects the cattle industry, in the U.S. after decades of eradication.

Source details

Type: Official
Secondary Reporting

URL

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Publication

thehill.com

Title

New World screwworm spread tests US readiness after Trump staffing cuts

Summary

She added the agency has more than 100 full-time staff dedicated to the infestation, compared to just 10 during the Biden administration. There are currently nine confirmed cases of screwworm among cattle and goats in Texas, and a dog in New Mexico.

Source details

Type: Major Media
Secondary Reporting

URL

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Analysis Breakdown

True/False Spectrum (3.0)Source Credibility (6.0)Bias Assessment (5.0)Contextual Integrity (4.0)Content Coherence (5.0)Expert Consensus (4.0)45%

How to read the breakdown

Weakest areas
Truth3.0/10Context4.0/10
  • Truth: how well sources support the core claim.
  • Source reliability: whether the sources have a strong track record.
  • Independence: whether coverage looks one-sided or recycled.
  • Context: missing details (timeframe, definitions, scope) that change meaning.
  • Tip: if graders disagree, rely more on the summary + sources than the single number.

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Methodology