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In a landmark move applauded by animal welfare advocates, the United States Navy has officially ended all medical testing on dogs and cats. Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan made the announcement on May 27 via a public video posted to X (formerly Twitter), calling the decision “long overdue.”
“Today it gives me great pleasure to terminate all Department of the Navy’s testing on cats and dogs, ending these inhumane practices and saving taxpayer dollars,” Phelan stated. He also commended the efforts of the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which helped shine a light on the issue.
The announcement came in response to growing public backlash after revelations about disturbing experiments surfaced through a series of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) disclosures. The reports, spearheaded by the animal rights organization White Coat Waste, exposed millions in taxpayer-funded tests that included controversial procedures on dogs and cats. Among the revelations was a $10 million contract to study constipation and erectile dysfunction using invasive animal testing.
Journalist and activist Laura Loomer further brought the issue into the spotlight through her show, “Loomer Unleashed,” which in turn prompted responses from several lawmakers and public figures, including DOGE head Elon Musk and Representative Nancy Mace (R-SC).
Anthony Bellotti, president of White Coat Waste, hailed the Navy’s decision as a major victory for taxpayers and ethical science. “We’re thrilled that 10 days after the Trump DOD canceled cruel cat tests exposed by White Coat Waste, the U.S. Navy is now cutting all wasteful experiments on dogs and cats following our investigations and campaign,” Bellotti said.
In the same announcement, Secretary Phelan stated that he would instruct the Surgeon General of the Navy to conduct a full review of all ongoing medical research programs. This review will assess their alignment with ethical guidelines, scientific necessity, and the Navy’s core values.
The policy shift mirrors recent federal trends. In April, the FDA announced it would halt drug testing on animals in favor of more modern alternatives such as lab-grown human organoids, “organs on a chip,” AI-driven simulations, and other advanced technologies.
Animal advocates have long fought for the end of painful and unnecessary animal testing, and this decision represents a significant step forward. The Navy’s bold move is now being hailed as both an ethical and fiscal win, showing that science and compassion can move forward hand in hand.
Click the video below to watch the full story:
Today it gives me great pleasure to terminate all Department of the Navy’s testing on cats and dogs, ending these inhumane practices and saving taxpayer dollars. This is long overdue. I commend @POTUS, @SecDef and @DOGE for bringing this to light. pic.twitter.com/joKRfuNbF4
— Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan (@SECNAV) May 27, 2025
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This content was created with AI assistance and edited by the iHeartDogs team.
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