Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller told Newsmax that federal efforts to eradicate the dangerous New World screwworm amount to the "definition of insanity."
Miller told Newsmax's "National Report" on Monday that Agriculture Department leaders in the Trump administration are "doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results."
He said releasing sterile screwworm flies in Mexico has not produced results in preventing the pests from reaching Texas.
He pointed to millions of flies released each week over the past 19 months that, he said, have not stopped the screwworm from approaching the U.S.-Mexico border region.
"That's 8 billion flies," Miller explained, "yet the screwworm fly has marched 1,100 miles north and is now in Texas and Arizona. We need to do something different. We have more tools in the toolbox, but we're not using all of them."
Miller said the most effective approach was developed more than 50 years ago and is known as the Screwworm Adult Suppression System.
"It worked great," Miller said, "killing 95% of the flies. It's a screwworm adult suppression system. It's just a simple fly bait. You put out the fly bait, the flies eat it, and they die."
Miller said he has urged the Trump administration to use the program, but so far there has been no serious response.
"I just got back from the White House last Thursday night," Miller said. "They know about it now, so hopefully we'll move forward and actually use something that works. This is a very simple program."
The Texas agriculture commissioner said the insect has the potential to inflict significant damage on cattle operations and, by extension, the U.S. food supply.
"We already have a 75-year low in cattle numbers," he said. "If it continues [to] a full outbreak, we won't have as many baby calves. So, yeah, it could lower the population of the beef herd, which is already at an all-time low."
Miller said wildlife and even household pets can be killed by the New World screwworm.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott expanded the state's emergency response to the New World screwworm this month after additional cases of the flesh-eating parasite were confirmed.
Abbott directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to elevate the State Operations Center to Level II, an increased response level, as state and federal agencies work to contain the threat.
"I have activated the full use of all state resources to respond to the New World screwworm threat," Abbott said in a statement.
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