The Trump administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched a groundbreaking initiative to phase out animal testing, marking a significant shift in scientific and environmental policies. This transformative approach prioritizes cruelty-free testing methods while addressing ethical concerns that have plagued traditional research practices for decades. What kind of humane approaches to scientific research are needed while ensuring animals are no longer subjected to unnecessary suffering?
Trump Administration’s Landmark Animal Testing Reform
The Trump administration’s EPA initiated a historic phase-out of animal testing, setting ambitious goals to reduce mammal testing by 30% by 2025 and eliminate it by 2035. Approximately 20,000 animals, including rabbits, mice, and rats, are currently used in EPA laboratories primarily to test the safety of environmental pollutants.
This reform reflects growing public sentiment, as a Morning Consult poll revealed that 80% of Americans support a government plan to phase out animal experiments. The policy shift represents a rare bipartisan initiative that addresses both fiscal responsibility and animal welfare concerns that have troubled many Americans across the political spectrum.
Fox confirms: Even PETA praised the Trump administration for phasing out cruel tests on dogs.
Remember the beagles? We do.
While Fauci funded torture, Trump stopped it.
All dog lovers should support this! pic.twitter.com/PkVCHZcHvq— Desiree (@DesireeAmerica4) April 13, 2025
Lab Animals Finding Forever Homes
In addition to phasing out testing, the Trump EPA approved an innovative program allowing for the adoption of retired laboratory animals. The adoption program is currently launching at the EPA’s Research Triangle complex in North Carolina, offering zebrafish and rats for private adoption to caring homes.
The initiative was revealed by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) and confirmed by White Coat Waste, a taxpayer watchdog group that has been advocating for this change since the beginning of the Trump administration. Anthony Bellotti of White Coat Waste stated: “Reinstating the EPA’s animal testing phase-out and its lab animal retirement policy has been a top priority for White Coat Waste since day one of the new Trump Administration.”
Good morning and happy Wednesday! Trump delivers again, shutting down the cruel beagle testing lab at NIH, linked to Fauci’s tenure. It’s a big first step toward ending such experiments, though more labs remain to be addressed , this is a promise kept! pic.twitter.com/URJ4Z4JoS2
— TheLizVariant (@TheLizVariant) May 7, 2025
Advanced Alternatives and Administrative Challenges
The reform emphasizes human-relevant testing methods, including sophisticated AI-based models that can more accurately predict human responses to chemicals and drugs. The FDA has announced plans to replace animal testing with these alternative methods, while the NIH is adopting initiatives to expand human-based science and reduce animal use in research.
Progress on the phase-out was temporarily halted during the Biden administration, which revoked the 2035 deadline and continued animal testing practices. This reversal prompted White Coat Waste to lead a bipartisan campaign to restore the EPA’s original phase-out timeline and retirement plans, which has now been successful under the reinstated Trump policy.
The USDA reports that pain is not minimized for many animals used in research, highlighting the ethical urgency of this reform. Experts in the field view the administration’s efforts as positive but overdue, emphasizing the need for clear deadlines and regulatory frameworks to ensure the transition to animal-free testing methods proceeds as planned.