U.S. Navy Ends Testing on Cats, Dogs After Watchdog Investigation

U.S. Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan announced the termination of all Navy testing on cats and dogs, calling the decision long overdue and highlighting its importance in ending inhumane practices and saving taxpayer dollars. This move follows an investigation by the watchdog group White Coat Waste Project (WCW), which exposed cruel and wasteful experiments funded by the Department of Defense, including a $10 million DARPA contract involving invasive and painful tests on cats to study conditions such as constipation and erectile dysfunction. The campaign against these tests gained significant attention through advocates like investigative journalist Laura Loomer, with support from influential figures including Elon Musk and members of Congress. Phelan also directed the Navy Surgeon General to conduct a comprehensive review of all medical research to ensure ethical compliance and scientific necessity going forward. The Navy's action aligns with broader federal efforts, including the NIH shutting down beagle labs and the FDA's plans to phase out animal testing in drug development, reflecting a growing shift toward more humane and scientifically relevant research methods. WCW praised the Navy's decision, emphasizing taxpayer protection from funding animal cruelty and the importance of ethical standards in government-funded research.