The National Institutes of Health has officially closed its last beagle testing facility, marking a major shift in federal animal testing policy. The move follows years of public backlash, bipartisan condemnation, and advocacy from watchdog groups like PETA and White Coat Waste.
Key Facts:
- NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya announced the closure of the last in-house beagle lab on NIH’s campus.
- The closure follows Elon Musk’s public comments and an investigation push into beagle testing funding.
- White Coat Waste claimed the lab exposed over 2,000 beagles to fatal procedures including septic shock and lung infections.
- Envigo, the beagle supplier, pleaded guilty in 2024 to animal cruelty and will pay over $35 million in fines.
- PETA and bipartisan lawmakers previously condemned NIH and Fauci for funding brutal animal experiments.
The Rest of The Story:
The National Institutes of Health has ended its beagle testing program, closing the final facility where the controversial animal experiments were conducted.
Director Jay Bhattacharya revealed the news on Fox News, noting that the closure came shortly after pressure from watchdog groups and high-profile figures like Elon Musk.
The lab gained national scrutiny after White Coat Waste released a report alleging cruel procedures on beagles, including inducing pneumonia and septic shock.
Groups like PETA and lawmakers across party lines called for an end to these practices.
The backlash intensified after reports surfaced of NIH-funded experiments overseas where puppies were subjected to horrific conditions.
This decision follows a broader trend under the Trump administration to phase out taxpayer-funded animal testing.
The FDA and EPA previously announced rollbacks on animal experimentation, including the closure of the government’s largest cat lab in 2019.
JUST IN: NIH closes experimentation labs accused of brutally killing thousands of beagles
A report from the White Coat Waste project detailed the lab's history of allegedly pumping pneumonia-causing bacteria into more than 2,000 beagles’ lungs, bleeding them out, and forcing… pic.twitter.com/FtOH1Vo2HK
— Steve Gruber (@stevegrubershow) May 5, 2025
Commentary:
For years, the federal government has quietly conducted barbaric experiments on dogs and other animals under the guise of science.
The revelation that NIH facilities were subjecting beagles to pneumonia, bleeding, and septic shock outraged Americans.
These aren’t lab rats — they’re companion animals, bred to trust humans, then tortured in silence.
The federal government has long used billions in taxpayer dollars for experiments that many experts agree have little relevance to human medicine.
While some level of testing may be necessary, the widespread, institutionalized suffering inflicted on innocent animals cannot be justified in a humane society.
The Trump administration took meaningful steps toward stopping these abuses, and now Director Bhattacharya has built on that legacy by officially shutting down NIH’s last dog lab.
His move sends a clear signal that science must evolve beyond cruelty.
There are now advanced alternatives — like organ-on-a-chip technologies — that make many of these tests obsolete.
PETA’s support of Bhattacharya’s action — even sending him flowers — underscores how rare it is to find federal officials willing to challenge the status quo in biomedical research.
And their continued push to hold groups like Envigo accountable is vital.
That company’s $35 million penalty is a start, but accountability must go further.
This wasn’t just a victory for watchdogs and whistleblowers.
It’s a win for everyday Americans who believe their taxes shouldn’t fund animal torture.
It also proves that public pressure — amplified by social media and direct action — can yield real results, even inside sprawling federal agencies.
The Bottom Line:
The NIH has closed its last beagle research facility after years of animal cruelty allegations, public outrage, and bipartisan calls for reform.
The move follows the Trump administration’s earlier steps to end government-sponsored animal testing.
Director Bhattacharya’s decision represents a turning point in the fight against inhumane taxpayer-funded experiments.
The pressure now shifts to ensuring this closure leads to lasting policy change across all federal research programs.
Read Next
– Another Reagan-Washington Airport Horror Narrowly Avoided – Black Hawk Helicopter Pilot Blamed
– Kickbacks and Betrayal: Top Insurers Accused of Exploiting Seniors in Medicare Advantage Scandal
– Walmart Announces A Massive Increase In Support For American Made Products
– Leftist Supreme Court Justice Goes On The Warpath Against President Trump, ‘Designed To Intimidate’