The US is currently experiencing its largest ever recorded outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a disease caused by infection with the cyclospora parasite. The disease is typically acquired via fecal-contaminated food or drink, and can cause explosive diarrhea and severe, lingering stomach cramps. Those who contract it generally have a terrible time. Experts have yet to conclusively identify the source of the outbreak, which continues unabated. Recent tests implicating Taylor Farms have been withdrawn as false positives, though Taylor Farms’ lettuce remains a primary suspect in the ongoing investigation.

After presiding over the COVID-19 crisis, one might imagine a presidential administration would be eager to prevent another public health catastrophe from occurring under its watch. The Trump administration, however, has taken pains to weaken the resilience of the already limited and chronically underfunded public health infrastructure in the United States. As a result, this latest outbreak is unfolding in a system that is even more diminished and under-resourced than it was in 2020.

First, it is worth noting that fecal contamination can happen when farmworkers are not given adequate bathroom breaks. Rather than protecting farmworkers, however, the Trump administration has made it harder for them to challenge unsafe conditions. In June 2025, the Labor Department suspended enforcement of a rule that expressly protected H-2A agricultural guest workers from retaliation for filing workplace safety complaints or consulting with worker advocates. The administration subsequently proposed rescinding those protections altogether.