More than 100 laboratory animals are waiting to be rehomed as the Department of Health and Human Services seeks to reduce reliance on animal testing.
The HHS touted its latest initiatives last week to accelerate the department’s shift toward more “human-based” research methods. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a release that the HHS was moving to put human biology at the “center of science.”
“We are modernizing outdated regulations, investing in human-based technologies, and breaking down barriers that have kept researchers dependent on animal models when better tools are available,” Kennedy said in a release. “Under President Trump, we will use the best science to protect patients, accelerate medical breakthroughs, and end unnecessary animal testing.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was told in November 2025 to phase out all of the monkey research, according to Science. A federal contract bid from the CDC petitioning for sanctuaries for 132 monkeys was posted on June 20.
However, the contract’s deadlines have been pushed back multiple times and have been modified.
As of Sept. 11, the CDC continues to search for a sanctuary for the monkeys, including rhesus and pig-tailed macaques. The contract specifies that the animals must not be used for any type of experimentation, including breeding. The species can live up to 40 years in captivity, according to the National Library of Medicine.
TRUMP HEALTH AGENCIES FAST-TRACK END TO ANIMAL TESTING
Other parts of HHS have also moved away from animal testing. The Food and Drug Administration issued a direct final rule on Sept. 22 to clarify that non-animal methods of testing for safety should be used “when appropriate.”
The Washington Examiner has reached out to HHS and the CDC for confirmation on the latest numbers.
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[ H/T Washington Examiner ]
