Lawmakers have criticized the Pentagon for authorizing painful experiments on dogs, which has led to a demand for transparency regarding how taxpayer money is being spent on such experiments. The White Coat Waste Project is an organization dedicated to ending taxpayer-funded animal experimentation, and they hope that the recent attention on this issue, along with a rider in the National Defense Authorization Act, will force the Pentagon to stop these painful tests. The Pentagon’s use of dogs for drug testing has raised concerns among lawmakers, leading to the drafting of an amendment to ban biomedical pet testing within the department.
A letter addressed to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin demanded detailed information about the dog testing conducted by the Pentagon, including the number of dogs involved, the USDA pain category of the tests, and an explanation of the testing process. Lawmakers expressed their concern about the use of taxpayer dollars on inhumane animal experiments for human drugs and called for more transparency regarding current and past expenditures related to testing. The White Coat Waste Project has been instrumental in efforts to defund all Department of Defense testing on cats and dogs and is working to ensure that the Pentagon follows suit.
Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough approved a study involving feline experimentation to benefit stroke survivors and veterans with amputations in 2022. Congress has since compelled the VA to suspend any active testing on cats, dogs, or primates by 2026 and highlighted McDonough’s role in reducing animal testing within the agency. A VA spokesperson defended McDonough’s actions, stating that approval of a study does not equate to advocacy for continued testing, and emphasized the significant reduction in sensitive species studies conducted by the VA.
Lawmakers, including Rep. Young Kim and Rep. Donald Davis, have criticized the Pentagon for spending nearly $1 million on beagle testing, calling the practice “inhumane and cruel.” Public funds should not be used for testing on animals, according to these lawmakers, who are working across party lines to halt these practices. The use of taxpayer funds to experiment on animals is viewed as an unacceptable use of resources, and there are calls for the Biden administration to end such practices within government agencies.
The exposure of testing on dogs and cats in the federal government has prompted lawmakers to take action to stop these practices and ensure transparency regarding animal experimentation. Proven, non-animal testing methods are available, and the Pentagon should consider utilizing these methods instead of subjecting animals to painful experiments. Additionally, efforts are underway to end all Department of Defense testing on cats and dogs, and the lack of transparency regarding such experiments is a cause for concern among lawmakers.
The Department of Defense has pledged to respond directly to lawmakers’ inquiries about animal testing, but has refrained from commenting on proposed legislation related to halting such practices. Lawmakers and animal welfare advocates are united in their opposition to taxpayer-funded animal experimentation, and they are working to ensure that government agencies, including the Pentagon, do not continue these inhumane practices. The focus is on promoting accountability, transparency, and the adoption of alternative testing methods to protect animals from unnecessary suffering.
