A total of 14 meat packing facilities have resumed or plan to resume operations this week following President Donald Trump’s Executive Order directing the facilities to implement guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) created specifically for the meat and poultry sector's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, in conjunction with CDC and state and local health officials, has been working around the clock to ensure that a safe and stable supply of protein is available for American consumers while also keeping plant employees safe.

“President Trump took decisive action last week to ensure America’s meat packing facilities reopen in a safe way to ensure America’s producers and ranchers will be able to bring their product to market,” Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said. “I want to thank the patriotic and heroic meat packing facility workers who are returning to work this week so the millions of Americans who depend on them for food security can continue to do so.”

The following major meat packing facilities are resuming operations across the U.S. this week:

Related:Trump’s Executive Order having impact on food supply chain

On May 5, 2020, Perdue issued letters to governors across the nation as well as to leadership at major meat processing companies.