The Trump administration is stepping up efforts to ease grocery costs for Americans, with President Donald Trump highlighting Walmart's latest beef price cuts after the Agriculture Department engaged with major retailers ahead of the Fourth of July.

According to The Wall Street Journal, USDA Chief of Staff Tate Bennett spoke last week with executives from Walmart, Kroger, and Albertsons about beef prices ahead of the holiday weekend, when demand for hamburgers and other grilling staples traditionally spikes.

During its discussion with USDA officials, Walmart said it already planned to reduce prices on numerous summer items, including ground beef. The retailer rolled out the discounts June 29 before announcing lower prices on thousands of products, including a 12% cut on ground beef.

Trump celebrated the move Monday in a Truth Social post, saying Walmart lowered prices "at my administration's request." He also urged other retailers to follow suit.

A White House spokesman told the Journal the price reductions came after months of administration efforts to cut regulations, reduce taxes and boost domestic food production.

The spokesman also said White House officials have stayed in regular contact with retailers, encouraging companies to pass savings from rolling back Biden-era environmental refrigerant regulations on to consumers.

The outreach underscores the administration's broader push to bring down everyday costs for American families. In recent months, Trump has also called on gasoline retailers to lower pump prices, urged pharmaceutical companies to reduce prescription drug costs, and backed limits on credit card interest rates.

Several grocery chains have promoted discounts as consumers continue to look for relief from higher food costs. Walmart has made grocery affordability a major focus, while Kroger and Stop & Shop parent Ahold Delhaize have also advertised price reductions.

During Walmart's May earnings call, Chief Financial Officer John David Rainey said, "We think the single best return that we can have on a dollar of capital right now is to invest in the customer and invest in price."

Beef prices, however, remain elevated because of tight supplies. The U.S. cattle herd has fallen to its lowest level in 75 years following years of drought and rising costs for ranchers, while strong consumer demand has kept prices elevated.

Labor Department data showed ground beef prices in May were 12% higher than a year earlier.

The Journal reported that Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller and senior adviser Peter Navarro have been tasked with finding ways to lower beef prices.

The administration has also pledged up to $500 million to support small and midsize meatpacking companies in an effort to strengthen domestic beef production and expand competition.