WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Environmental Protection Agency is reinstating a Trump-era initiative to eliminate animal testing, following a decision by new EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin to reverse the Biden administration’s cancellation of phaseout deadlines and animal retirement plans.
Key Points
- Trump’s EPA had set deadlines to reduce animal testing by 30% by 2025 and end it by 2035.
- The Biden administration removed those deadlines and scrapped animal retirement protocols.
- Zeldin has now reinstated Trump’s plan, with support from advocacy groups like White Coat Waste Project.
Animal testing practices under renewed scrutiny
The original 2019 plan under the Trump administration aimed to significantly curb testing on mammals by the agency, with a full elimination by 2035. It also included provisions for retiring some of the animals, such as rabbits used in toxicity tests. These plans were removed under President Biden, with no alternative guidelines offered.
Shore News Network previously reported on these deadly tests carried out by the National Institute of Health under Dr. Anthony Fauci.
The EPA uses animal testing to assess the human health risks of chemical exposure. This includes experiments involving the inhalation of smoke and emissions, and oral ingestion of substances by dogs. Tens of thousands of mammals are used annually, with some testing conducted in North Carolina.
The White Coat Waste Project, a watchdog group that advocates against taxpayer-funded animal experiments, publicly supported the reinstatement of the original plan, characterizing the Biden-era reversal as wasteful and inhumane.
Animal sanctuaries offer to assist with retirement
Following reports that rabbits were euthanized rather than retired under Biden-era EPA leadership, Kindness Ranch, an animal sanctuary, has reiterated its offer to assist. The organization has stated its willingness to take in animals from federal labs at no cost to taxpayers.
The nonprofit has experience rehoming former lab animals, including dogs, cats, and rabbits, and said it has made repeated offers to the EPA to provide assistance.
Animal testing by federal agencies has drawn attention in recent years, including backlash over reports of NIH-funded experiments on dogs. White Coat Waste Project has been central in publicizing these cases and calling for reforms.
Chemical safety testing remains controversial
EPA’s chemical safety experiments have included tests involving forced inhalation of wildfire smoke, exposure to emissions from firearms, and pesticide testing on dogs. These experiments have been cited by advocacy groups as outdated and unnecessary.
While the EPA has not detailed new retirement protocols under Zeldin’s leadership, the agency’s revived direction follows earlier commitments to shift toward non-animal testing methods and reduce reliance on mammals in chemical safety assessments.