In 2019, Michigan lawmakers—Republicans and Democrats alike—came together to pass a commonsense law: eggs sold in our state should come from hens who are not crammed into cages so small they can barely move. That bipartisan decision reflected what millions of Americans already believe—that extreme confinement of animals is simply wrong.

Now, the U.S. Department of Justice is suing Michigan to overturn that law.

This lawsuit does not reflect the will of Michigan voters, our Legislature, or even many of our own egg farmers. In fact, Michigan producers have publicly asked the federal government to stay out of their business. They’ve made clear that real threats to egg production—like highly pathogenic avian influenza—deserve urgent federal attention. Industry experts have also stated that bird flu, not cage-free policies, is the primary driver of egg price volatility.

Michigan is not alone. States across the political spectrum have adopted similar standards, and the U.S. Supreme Court has already upheld California’s comparable law. Consumers are choosing higher-welfare products. Retailers are shifting their supply chains. Nearly half of U.S. egg production has already transitioned to cage-free systems, with more change underway.

This lawsuit risks creating chaos in a market that is already evolving—while undermining a law passed through Michigan’s democratic process.

We are calling on U.S. Attorney General and the U.S. Department of Justice to immediately drop the lawsuit against Michigan’s cage-free egg law and respect our state’s right to set basic humane standards for products sold within its borders.

Protect Michigan’s bipartisan animal welfare law. Respect states’ rights. Let farmers innovate. And honor the clear, growing consensus that extreme animal confinement has no place in our food system.