Vox
July 2, 2026
Bipartisan Opposition to Pig Gestation Crates
TL;DR
Liberals and conservatives are unexpectedly uniting against gestation crates used to confine pregnant pigs, with both sides opposing the Save Our Bacon Act that would overturn state animal welfare laws.
Key Takeaways
- 1Gestation crates are tiny cages that confine millions of pregnant pigs for their entire lives, considered by many as inhumane
- 2Several states including California and Massachusetts have banned gestation crates or require pork sold within their borders come from farms without them
- 3The Save Our Bacon Act would overturn these state-level animal welfare protections, but faces unusual bipartisan opposition in Congress
- 4Animal welfare has traditionally been viewed as a liberal issue, but is now increasingly becoming a bipartisan concern
- 5The fight for animal protection is shifting from a left-versus-right political divide to people versus special interests like the National Pork Producers Council
Notable Quotes
“These are tiny cages that pork producers use to confine millions of pregnant pigs for almost their entire lives.”
“the fight for animal protection is less about left versus right and more about people versus special interests”
— animal advocate
Chapters
1. The Problem: Gestation Crates
Gestation crates are tiny cages used by pork producers to confine millions of pregnant pigs for almost their entire lives, considered inhumane by animal welfare advocates.
2. State-Level Progress
Several states have banned gestation crates, and California and Massachusetts now require that pork sold within their borders come from farms that do not use them.
3. Federal Threat: Save Our Bacon Act
The Save Our Bacon Act is moving through Congress as part of the farm bill and would overturn state-level animal welfare laws protecting pigs from gestation crates.
4. Unexpected Bipartisan Opposition
Both Republicans and Democrats are pushing back against the act, marking a shift from the historical pattern where Republicans supported industry interests against animal welfare regulations.
5. A New Political Paradigm
Animal welfare is becoming increasingly bipartisan, with the fight for animal protection no longer primarily about left versus right, but about people versus special interests.
Key People & Entities
- Tommy Lahren
- Fox News host speaking out against gestation crates
- Nicholas Kristoff
- New York Times columnist speaking out against gestation crates
- National Pork Producers Council
- lobbying group historically supporting industry interests against animal welfare regulations
Glossary
- gestation crates
- tiny cages used by pork producers to confine pregnant pigs for their entire lives
- Save Our Bacon Act
- a bill moving through Congress that would overturn state-level animal welfare laws regarding gestation crates
- farm bill
- comprehensive federal legislation covering agricultural policy, in which the Save Our Bacon Act is being considered