U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced increased efforts to combat puppy mills during her visit to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa this week. At the event, Rollins stated that previous practices of merely citing violations by dog breeders are being replaced by a more aggressive approach aimed at shutting down non-compliant operations.
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Rollins indicated that the USDA is ramping up its field agents by 20 percent, focusing particularly on states such as Iowa and Missouri, which are noted for their compliance issues. "Iowa is right at the top of the list," she said, adding that Virginia and a few other states will also see intensified actions against puppy mills.
Representative Zach Nunn, a Republican running for reelection in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District, joined Rollins at the ARL. Earlier this year, he supported a farm bill amendment aimed at enhancing the USDA’s authority to address breeders that violate animal welfare laws. Nunn's amendment removed a provision that would have raised the threshold of suffering required before animals could be seized by the USDA.
Furthermore, Nunn co-sponsors Goldie’s Act, or HR 349, which seeks to enhance enforcement measures under the Animal Welfare Act. This proposed legislation, still awaiting approval in Congress, includes provisions for the USDA to report violations to local authorities and conduct follow-up inspections.
In February, Rollins highlighted the USDA's commitment to enforcing animal welfare violations, emphasizing the need for stricter accountability among breeders not meeting humane care standards. Citing statistics, she noted that compliance with the Animal Welfare Act has risen from 67% in 2015 to over 92% in 2025, attributed to improved regulations and industry cooperation.
Despite these advancements, Rollins acknowledged the need to root out repeat offenders. She discussed recent initiatives, including a “strikeforce roundtable” with federal agencies aimed at improving regulatory oversight of breeding facilities. New regulations are expected to emerge that respond to public concerns regarding the treatment of dogs, including stricter licensing requirements for veterinary procedures.
The USDA is also committed to clearer communication with breeders, distributing 2,000 regulatory updates to ensure they understand humane care requirements. In 2026, the agency focused heavily on monitoring non-compliant breeders, resulting in the denial or termination of eight licenses and the completion of over 2,000 inspections nationwide.
However, the USDA faces criticism regarding its enforcement of existing regulations. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is currently suing the USDA over its decision to license three Iowa breeders implicated in a puppy-laundering scheme. The lawsuit, filed in 2024, has progressed slowly through the courts, with the ASPCA now seeking to amend its claims that the USDA maintains a policy of non-enforcement.