The Trump administration said Monday it plans to permanently allow U.S. poultry and pork processing plants to run faster, raising concerns among advocacy groups about worker health and food safety. The USDA's decision is a win for meat companies and industry associations such as the National Chicken Council, which have advocated for faster processing lines. However, it also heightens concerns about the health of slaughterhouse workers, who often do repetitive tasks with sharp knives and toil in extreme heat or cold. The USDA will begin a process to permanently increase the processing speeds it allows certain plants to use under waivers, according to a statement. Chicken farms that receive the waivers will be able to process up to 175 chickens per minute, up from the previous limit of 140.