In what can only be described as a pivotal breakthrough for both ethics and science, the United States is making meaningful progress toward ending the cruel and outdated practice of animal testing. From federal agencies to research labs, the momentum is clear: the future of medicine and innovation does not need to be built on animal suffering.
And while it may come as a surprise to some, one of the driving forces behind this shift was former President Donald J. Trump. Through a series of decisions that shook the scientific establishment, including defunding the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and backing agency-wide reforms, Trump helped spark a long-overdue conversation about the efficacy, ethics, and financial waste tied to animal experimentation.
Now, with the NIH, FDA, and EPA all beginning to embrace human-relevant, non-animal research methods, the stage is set for a fundamental transformation in how America approaches science—and Sustainable Action Now is here to celebrate, scrutinize, and push this movement further.
👉 Learn more about the future of research and why animal testing must end
Defunding the NIH: A Controversial Move with Unexpected Consequences
Earlier this year, Trump’s decision to strip funding from the NIH sparked fierce debate across political and scientific circles. But for those of us long engaged in the animal rights movement, this move opened a critical door—the freedom to finally question the status quo without fear of institutional blowback.
For decades, the NIH funneled billions into animal-based research, propping up a system of cruelty that failed to consistently deliver results for human health. With funding pulled, so too was the protective veil shielding outdated methodologies.
Not long after, Dr. Nicole Kleinstreuer of the NIH made an announcement that would redefine biomedical research in America: a formal pivot away from live animal testing and toward non-animal, human-relevant methods.
This is a victory that organizations like PETA, White Coat Waste, Humane World for Animals, and Sustainable Action Now have demanded for years. And now, we’re finally seeing policy catch up with public sentiment—and scientific reality.
The FDA and EPA Follow Suit: Phasing Out Cruelty for Better Science
Following the NIH’s announcement, both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rolled out plans to phase out animal testing requirements, earning bipartisan praise and widespread support from animal advocates.
The FDA announced it would no longer mandate animal testing for monoclonal antibody therapies and other drugs—replacing those requirements with cutting-edge human-based models such as organoids, tissue cultures, and AI-powered simulations. In the words of FDA Commissioner Dr. Martin A. Makary:
“This initiative marks a paradigm shift in drug evaluation and holds promise to accelerate cures and meaningful treatments for Americans while reducing animal use. It’s a win-win for public health and ethics.”
Makary also noted that drug developers had been conducting unnecessary animal tests—even when human data was already available internationally. By eliminating this bureaucratic red tape, the FDA is not only reducing animal suffering but also cutting costs and speeding up innovation.
EPA’s Comeback: Restoring Animal Testing Phase-Out Plans Delayed by the Biden Administration
In tandem with the FDA’s announcement, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin reinstated a 2019 directive from Trump’s first term that aimed to end animal testing at the agency entirely by 2035. The original plan, which included a 30% reduction in testing on mammals by 2025, had stalled under the Biden administration—but Zeldin is bringing it back with urgency.
“Administrator Zeldin is wholly committed to getting the agency back on track,” said EPA spokesperson Molly Vaseliou. “The goal is clear: eliminate wasteful and widely opposed animal testing from federal research.”
This renewed commitment comes as welcome news to countless dogs, rabbits, mice, rats, and fish previously subjected to often brutal testing regimens. It also aligns with mounting public opposition and the rise of advanced technologies that render such practices obsolete.
Animal Advocacy Groups Applaud the Shift—and Call for More
The wave of support for these new policies has been nothing short of extraordinary. Groups like PETA, White Coat Waste Project, and Humane World for Animals have applauded the Trump-era policies and the continued momentum under current agency leaders.
“PETA applauds the FDA’s decision to stop harming animals and adopt human-relevant testing strategies,” said PETA’s Senior VP Kathy Guillermo. “This is a significant step, but the fight isn’t over.”
PETA also called for an end to monkey testing at federally funded primate centers and demanded the complete replacement of outdated animal models with 21st-century science.
White Coat Waste, a watchdog organization focused on taxpayer-funded animal experiments, also gave rare bipartisan praise to Trump’s administration:
“We applaud Administrator Zeldin and Commissioner Makary for picking up where Trump left off. This is great news for taxpayers and pet owners alike—it sends a message to big-spending animal abusers: stop the money, stop the madness,” said Senior VP Justin Goodman.
The Reality Check: Are We There Yet?
While these victories are monumental, some voices within the scientific community urge caution. According to Matthew R. Bailey, President of the National Association for Biomedical Research, there are still areas where no AI or in vitro model can fully replace live testing—at least not yet.
“Humane animal research remains indispensable for now,” Bailey stated. “We all want faster cures, but the technology must prove itself in full biological contexts.”
This tension underscores the need for continued investment in high-tech alternatives, greater oversight, and strong public pressure to ensure that phasing out animal testing doesn’t become a hollow promise.
👉 Here’s how you can help ensure real, lasting change in the fight to end animal testing
A Legacy in the Making: Science, Ethics, and Political Will
What’s happening now is not a fluke. It’s the result of persistent advocacy, growing scientific innovation, and, yes, bold political will. President Trump’s administration—through funding cuts, policy reforms, and agency leadership—helped set the stage for a transformation in how America treats animals in science.
From his opposition to dog testing to federal moves to eliminate wasteful experiments, Trump’s stance forced conversations that many were too cautious to have. And now, those seeds are bearing fruit.
This is not about partisan politics. It’s about protecting lives—animal and human alike. Sustainable Action Now salutes the progress made, and we demand even more from our leaders and institutions.
The Road Ahead: Where You Come In
This is a moment to celebrate—but it’s also a moment to act.
Here’s what you can do today to help end animal testing:
- Support legislation that promotes human-relevant science and bans outdated animal experiments
- Educate yourself and others about the realities of government-funded animal testing
- Donate to organizations that fight for ethical science and transparency
- Demand that research institutions be held accountable for their testing practices
- Share this report to help others join the movement
👉 Join Sustainable Action Now to push for science without suffering
This is a turning point. The Trump administration’s stance cracked the door open. Today’s federal announcements are pushing it wider. But it’s up to all of us—advocates, voters, scientists, and everyday citizens—to walk through it.
With courage, compassion, and collective pressure, we can build a system that rewards innovation over inertia. A system that puts human-relevant science front and center. A system that no longer relies on cages, needles, and fear.
We’re getting closer to that future every day.
Now let’s finish the job.
The Turning Point: NIH’s Groundbreaking Announcement
Dr. Kleinstreuer, who serves as Director of the National Toxicology Program Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods (NICEATM), has officially acknowledged what compassionate scientists, animal welfare organizations, and growing segments of the public have said for years: animal testing is an ineffective, outdated, and unnecessarily cruel practice that must be replaced with modern, human-relevant alternatives.
This is not just rhetoric—it’s action. The NIH’s shift toward non-animal research methods is expected to dramatically reduce the use of animals in laboratories. Mice, rats, monkeys, rabbits, dogs, cats, and countless other animals have suffered and died in sterile cages under the guise of scientific progress. But this policy shift aims to replace those models with advanced systems like:
- Organs-on-chips
- 3D tissue cultures
- High-throughput computational models
- Human cell-based assays
These groundbreaking tools offer not only more ethical testing options but also more reliable, replicable, and predictive results for human biology.
Why This Matters: Science Without Suffering
For far too long, animals have been treated as disposable tools in laboratories. More than 100 million animals are used in experiments worldwide each year, many of them subjected to prolonged suffering, invasive surgeries, force-feeding, poisoning, and psychological torment—all in the name of science that often fails to yield applicable results in human medicine.
The vast majority of drugs that pass animal tests never make it to market—or worse, fail in human trials due to side effects not detected in animals. We’ve known for years that animal biology is not a reliable substitute for human biology. So why continue the cruelty?
This new direction from the NIH signals an end to that flawed logic. It validates what ethical scientists and advocates have known all along: we can protect both people and animals by investing in better science.
PETA, Sustainable Action Now, and the Long Road to Reform
This victory didn’t happen overnight. Organizations like PETA and Sustainable Action Now have been fighting on the frontlines to end animal experimentation for decades. From legislative lobbying to public demonstrations, undercover investigations to hard-hitting educational campaigns, this has been a war waged with passion, facts, and a vision of a better world.
We’ve exposed labs where dogs are poisoned, where monkeys are psychologically tormented, where rabbits are blinded with chemicals, and where rodents are force-fed toxins until death. We’ve documented the suffering. We’ve petitioned government bodies. And now, at long last, change is happening at the highest levels.
But the fight is far from over.
👉 Help us accelerate the transition to non-animal research models. Learn how you can take action today
Looking Ahead: A Future We Can Believe In
The announcement by Dr. Kleinstreuer is a beacon of hope—but also a call to action. Sustainable Action Now urges policymakers, corporations, research institutions, and the public to embrace this moment and push for full implementation of humane science across all sectors.
We envision a world where no animal is ever burned, mutilated, or killed in the name of “research.” A world where cruelty is not subsidized by taxpayer dollars. A world where scientific discovery and ethical responsibility are not mutually exclusive—but mutually reinforcing.
The NIH’s move shows that it’s not only possible—it’s already happening.
What You Can Do
Want to be a part of this paradigm shift? Here’s how you can help right now:
- Educate yourself and others about the realities of animal testing and the alternatives
- Support legislation that promotes the use of non-animal methods
- Donate to organizations working to end animal testing and promote ethical research
- Demand transparency from corporations and universities about their research practices
- Share this article to spread the word and inspire others to take action
Your voice matters. Your choices matter. Together, we can create a world where innovation doesn’t cost lives.
👉 Join Sustainable Action Now in building that future
Final Word: Science with a Conscience
As the world wakes up to the brutal realities of animal testing, and as institutions like the NIH begin to lead by example, one thing becomes crystal clear: the age of cruelty in science is coming to an end.
At Sustainable Action Now, we believe that true progress comes when compassion and innovation work side by side. This monumental step toward human-relevant, non-animal research is not just a win for science—it’s a win for every living being.
Let’s keep moving forward. Let’s hold institutions accountable. Let’s build a future where science works for all of us—without harming any of us.
👉 Take action. End animal testing. Support science with a conscience.
In a major, history-shaping development for animals and ethical science alike, Dr. Nicole Kleinstreuer of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently announced a transformative pivot in biomedical research: a large-scale move away from cruel and outdated animal experiments and toward non-animal, human-relevant methodologies.
This announcement represents more than a scientific milestone—it’s a deeply human one. Millions of animals will be spared as we enter an era where compassion and cutting-edge science go hand in hand.
This is the moment Sustainable Action Now and allies like PETA have long championed. It’s the payoff after decades of pressure, public education, legislative efforts, and tireless advocacy. It’s proof that science doesn’t need suffering, and that progress doesn’t have to be paved with pain.
👉 Read more on the impact of this breakthrough and our continued work to end animal testing
Take action. Spread awareness. Support ethical science.
👉 Millions of animals will be spared—learn how you can help end animal testing today
