USDA and FDA announce new animal welfare and testing standards

The Trump administration has announced a series of initiatives aimed at updating animal welfare standards and reducing reliance on animal testing. USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. detailed plans to strengthen oversight for companion animals and implement new regulatory frameworks.

Key developments include the USDA’s intention to propose updated standards for the Animal Welfare Act by 2027, following extensive public input regarding the care of dogs. Additionally, the FDA has issued a rule allowing drugmakers the option to use non-animal methods to assess the safety of drugs and biologics, a shift intended to modernize science and reduce unnecessary testing. This change is expected to take effect in February 2027.

While the administration has framed these moves as a ‘new era of animal welfare,’ critics note that the updated standards and increased monitoring primarily focus on companion animals and those used in research. The policies do not currently extend to livestock such as cows, pigs, or chickens used in food production.