U.S. Announces Sweeping New Actions To Reduce Animal Testing & Advance Non-Animal Alternatives
In a significant development, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced a new wave of federal actions aimed at reducing animal testing and expanding non-animal alternatives.
Dogs, cats, rabbits, primates, and many other species continue to be used in laboratory research and testing. The latest announcement could help move science away from animal testing as new technologies designed around human biology continue to advance.
As part of the broader effort to move away from animal testing, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) closed the last beagle laboratory on its campus in May 2025. NIH also now allows grant funding to be used to retire or rehome animals used in research.
Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expanding scientifically validated alternatives to animal testing. According to HHS, changes already underway are expected to spare hundreds of non-human primates and more than one million horseshoe crabs annually.
The FDA also issued a direct final rule updating its regulations to remove references to animal testing and implement the FDA Modernization Act.
NIH is seeking input from the scientific community on the feasibility of creating an annual public report tracking the number of vertebrate animals used in NIH-funded research, which could provide greater transparency around animal use.
Alternatives being advanced include human organoids, tissue models, artificial intelligence, and computational modeling, helping pave the way toward a future where animals are no longer used in research and testing.
As previously reported by World Animal News, Ridglan Farms in Wisconsin permanently closed this year after six decades of breeding beagles for laboratory research. A total of 2,115 beagles were saved from Ridglan Farms, including the final 155 rescued in August.
Many of the dogs had reportedly never walked on grass, felt the sun, or explored the outdoors before. After their rescue, they were finally given the opportunity to experience freedom for the very first time.
“But this is just the beginning. There are still thousands upon thousands of dogs in testing facilities across this country who need our help too. We have a long way to go, and we’re not stopping until every one of them is out,” Big Dog Ranch Rescue stated following the historic closure.
While these developments mark important progress for animals, animal experimentation continues throughout the United States. Dogs, cats, and many other species are still being used in research and testing.
Animals in laboratories are not simply numbers or research models. They are living, sentient beings who deserve our care, compassion, and respect.
As humane alternatives continue to advance, the ultimate goal must be to end animal testing and create a future where no animal is made to suffer in the name of research.
