PETA thanks Trump admin for Navy ban, pushes for animal research restrictions

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) recently penned a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Navy Secretary John Phelan, expressing gratitude for the Trump administration’s decision to ban Navy-funded dog and cat experiments. The organization also urged for a broader ban on all animal testing across all military branches.

Phelan announced the termination of all Department of the Navy testing on cats and dogs earlier this week, citing the need to save taxpayer dollars and put an end to inhumane studies. White Coat Waste, a bipartisan nonprofit organization and government watchdog, played a significant role in advocating for this decision.

“This is long overdue,” Phelan stated in a video message. “In addition to this termination, I’m directing the surgeon general of the Navy to conduct a comprehensive review of all medical research programs to ensure they align with ethical guidelines, scientific necessity, and our core values of integrity and readiness.”

PETA commended the Department of Defense for taking this crucial step and called for a comprehensive audit aimed at eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse in animal experimentation within the military. Specifically, the organization requested a ban on the use of animals in Navy decompression sickness and oxygen toxicity tests, as well as a prohibition on the use of dogs, cats, nonhuman primates, marine animals, and other animals in Army weapon-wounding tests.

The reinstatement of weapon-wounding tests by the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command in 2020 raised concerns, prompting PETA to advocate for the cessation of such experiments. The organization successfully lobbied for the discontinuation of a brain-damaging weapon-wounding experiment on ferrets at Wayne State University, highlighting the need for ethical and humane research practices.

PETA also raised alarm over the cruel treatment of animals in decompression sickness experiments conducted by the Naval Medical Research Command. Reports revealed instances where baby pigs were subjected to excruciating procedures, resulting in their untimely deaths. The organization estimated that over $5.1 million in federal funding was wasted on these tests at various universities.

In response to these revelations, PETA called for a broader ban on animal testing in all military branches, including foreign institutions receiving DOD funding. The organization highlighted disturbing experiments in Canada and Australia involving dogs and rats, urging for an end to such barbaric practices.

As PETA continues to advocate for the ethical treatment of animals, it remains hopeful that the Department of Defense will heed their call for reform and prioritize compassion in scientific research. The organization’s relentless efforts underscore the importance of upholding ethical standards and ending the unnecessary suffering of innocent animals in the name of experimentation.