The Trump administration is suing the state of California to block animal welfare laws that it says unconstitutionally helped send egg prices soaring. But a group that spearheaded the requirements pushed back, blaming bird flu for the hit to consumers’ pocketbooks.

The lawsuit said California's animal cruelty laws created "unnecessary red tape" in egg production, bringing up prices in the U.S.

The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against California, arguing the state's animal welfare law preempts federal law and are therefore illegal and have driven up egg prices.