‘Did Biden build a time machine?’ Critics accuse Republicans of rewriting history after Biden takes blame for Texas cattle threat emerging under Trump

Texas – A growing threat to Texas cattle has turned into a political fight after senior Republicans blamed former President Joe Biden for the return of the screwworm, a dangerous parasite that has raised concerns among ranchers and agricultural officials. But the accusations quickly triggered a wave of criticism, with opponents arguing that the Trump administration’s own decisions may have weakened efforts designed to detect and contain the pest.

The debate intensified after Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Sen. Roger Marshall appeared on Newsmax and linked the current situation to policies from the Biden administration.

Rollins, who is leading the federal response to the first confirmed screwworm infestation in the United States in decades, argued that the problem began developing before President Donald Trump returned to office. “I do think it’s important to note that under the last administration, with the massive movement under the open borders policy, the cartels, et cetera, border security — that’s when it began to make its way back up toward America,” she said.

She also suggested that insufficient action had been taken before she assumed her position in early 2025, saying that when she arrived, “obviously not much had been done to push back.”

Marshall took the criticism even further. “This is another thing we can thank Joe Biden for,” the Kansas Republican said, claiming that migrants crossing the southern border had “brought this screwworm with them.”

Those comments quickly spread online, but so did the backlash.

Critics point to cuts made under Trump

Opponents of the administration argued that blaming Biden ignores actions taken after Trump returned to the White House.

Among the sharpest responses came from Democratic Rep. Shontel Brown, who challenged the administration’s explanation on social media.

“The Trump Admin cut funding for screwworm detection and fired 25% of staff responsible for tracking the disease,” Brown wrote. “I’m embarrassed for the Secretary that her only answer is to blame the administration that left office a year and a half ago.”

The Trump Admin cut funding for screwworm detection and fired 25% of staff responsible for tracking the disease.

I’m embarrassed for the Secretary that her only answer is to blame the administration that left office a year and a half ago. https://t.co/dvnogWFSx7

— Rep. Shontel Brown (@RepShontelBrown) June 8, 2026

Others focused on broader changes made to government programs connected to agricultural monitoring and disease prevention.

Progressive activist Melanie D’Arrigo wrote, “Your reminder that Trump gutted the agencies and programs that would have prevented the screwworm outbreak.”

Political commentator Ron Filipkowski also mocked the administration’s argument. “Of course, screwworm now showing up in the US in June 2026 is also the fault of Joe Biden, just like everything else continues to be Joe Biden’s fault during the Trump presidency.”

Of course, screwworm now showing up in the US in June 2026 is also the fault of Joe Biden, just like everything else continues to be Joe Biden’s fault during the Trump presidency. https://t.co/CMo5EOIFUo

— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) June 8, 2026

The criticism was not limited to political disagreement. Many of the responses focused on specific policy decisions that occurred after Trump took office.

In 2025, the administration ended USAID-funded programs operated through the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Those programs had been involved in monitoring and helping contain screwworm populations in Central America before they could spread farther north.

At the same time, the Department of Government Efficiency, commonly known as DOGE, reduced the size of the U.S. Department of Agriculture workforce. Roughly 15,000 USDA employees were cut, representing about 15 percent of the agency’s staff.

Critics argued that reducing personnel and ending monitoring programs made it harder to identify and respond to emerging threats.

Questions emerge over the timeline

Another issue fueling the controversy involves the sequence of events surrounding cattle imports from Mexico.

Those challenging the administration’s explanation noted that the Biden administration actually closed ports of entry for cattle from Mexico in November 2024 as concerns about screwworm spread increased.

After Trump took office, those ports were reopened in February 2025. Several months later, in May 2025, they were closed once again.

That timeline led many observers to question whether responsibility could be placed entirely on policies from the previous administration.

One of the most widely shared reactions came from journalist Juliet Jeske, host of the Decoding Fox News podcast. She summed up the criticism with a short question posted online: “Did Biden build a time machine?”

Did Biden build a Time Machine? https://t.co/RHqIDzHrAQ

— Decoding Fox News (@DecodingFoxNews) June 8, 2026

The remark quickly gained attention because it captured the central argument being made by critics. If the outbreak is emerging during Trump’s presidency and after policy changes made by his administration, they argue, then assigning all responsibility to Biden becomes difficult.

Texas remains at the center of concern

Beyond the political battle, the screwworm issue carries serious consequences for Texas agriculture.

The parasite poses a threat to livestock because it can infest wounds on animals, creating significant health problems and economic losses if outbreaks are not contained quickly.

That reality has made the situation especially important in Texas, where cattle production remains one of the state’s largest agricultural industries.

As federal officials continue responding to the infestation, the political blame game shows no sign of slowing down. Republicans insist the roots of the problem stretch back to the previous administration, while critics argue that recent cuts to monitoring programs, workforce reductions and policy decisions made under Trump deserve far more scrutiny.

For now, the screwworm itself remains the immediate concern. But the growing fight over who is responsible has become nearly as visible as the threat facing Texas ranchers and the livestock industry.