On [insert date], Secretary Brooke L. Rollins of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced new actions to enhance companion animal welfare during a Strikeforce roundtable that included collaboration with various federal agencies. Participants from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the USDA Office of Inspector General were present at the event.
Read More
Rollins stated that the measures reflect the Trump Administration's commitment to animal welfare, emphasizing the need for proper care and respect for animals. She outlined new standards aimed at improving animal welfare, enhancing training and staff monitoring, and increasing public awareness about protecting companion animals.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. highlighted the importance of animal treatment as a reflection of societal values and mentioned ongoing efforts to transition to human-centered research, which includes more than 20 actions to advance scientific methods that reduce animal testing.
Among the USDA's new initiatives are updates to standards governing the care of dogs, based on over 7,500 public comments received from a recent Request for Information. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is finalizing regulatory proposals that address humane treatment, medical care, exercise, and socialization for dogs under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA).
To enhance communication regarding animal care laws, USDA is sending over 2,000 regulatory refresher notices to dog breeding facilities. This initiative aims to clarify legal compliance requirements.
The recently established Animal Protection Bureau (APB) will enhance nationwide oversight and enforcement of animal welfare laws. The APB will conduct targeted compliance reviews, coordinate investigations, and implement modern enforcement strategies, working closely with inspectors and legal partners to identify unlicensed operations and improve animal welfare inspections.
USDA's Office of Inspector General plans to increase its workforce by 20% to address animal fighting and related illegal activities, further supporting APHIS investigations and legal actions against violators.
In compliance efforts, USDA reported actions in 2026 to remove repeat offenders from licensing programs, including denying or terminating eight dog breeder licenses and pursuing investigations against facilities violating the AWA.
To date, the Trump Administration has enacted numerous initiatives to improve animal welfare, such as enhancing inspection consistency and training, accelerating enforcement against non-compliant facilities, targeting unlicensed operations, and increasing public awareness through community outreach events and updated transparency tools.