TEXAS — The alarming baby formula shortage continues across the country, and officials are pointing fingers. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott released a statement on Twitter Thursday, along with the National Border Control Council, slamming the Biden administration for providing migrants detained in facilities with baby formula during the ongoing national shortage.
Joint statement with @BPUnion President Brandon Judd on the Biden Administration providing baby formula to illegal immigrants amid national shortage: https://t.co/K5hJvcR8nv pic.twitter.com/5KalGJ2eGP
— Gov. Greg Abbott (@GovAbbott) May 12, 2022
In the tweet, Abbott said that he believes the available formula should go to American families. He goes on to say that “President Bien has turned a a blind eye to parents across America,” as parents have to drive for hours to find formula during the shortage.
Abbott ends his tweet stating that American families’ “survival and needs” deserve to be first.
This comes after the Food and Drug Administration said that they were regularly meeting with infant formula manufactures to speed up the processes to get formula on the shelves.
Officials have reported supply chain issues as the biggest contributor to the national baby formula shortage, with recalls extending back into February. Tuesday, the FDA also said its plan to address the shortage includes asking retailers to consider purchase limits.
Abbott's statement generated immediate backlash Thursday, with numerous critics pointing out that those babies are in the custody of the United States, and their immigration status should not be a barrier to being fed.
Among the critics is Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, whose wife recently gave birth to their third child.
"As the father of a newborn, I’m struck by Greg Abbott’s callous inhumanity," Castro wrote in a tweet. "Governor, the government provides baby formula because these babies are being held in government custody and unable to shop HEB or Walmart for formula. All you do is divide people with fear."