12/30/2025
Trump Administration Launches Nationwide Strike Force Against Animal Cruelty
The Trump administration has announced a sweeping new federal initiative aimed at cracking down on animal abuse across the United States. The multi-agency strike force brings together the Department of Justice, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Health and Human Services in what officials describe as an unprecedented coordinated effort.
Attorney General Pam Bondi revealed the initiative on My View with Lara Trump, alongside Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The focus is on severe cases of cruelty, including illegal dogfighting operations, abusive puppy mills, and animal testing practices deemed unnecessary.
Under the plan, the DOJ will assign specialized U.S. attorneys in every state to prioritize animal cruelty cases, while prosecutors and law enforcement receive additional training to handle complex investigations. The USDA has adopted a zero-tolerance approach to enforcing the Animal Welfare Act, pushing compliance rates from roughly 65 percent to 92 percent and targeting remaining violators, especially high-volume puppy mills.
HHS is also committing to a gradual phaseout of animal testing, citing research showing animal models predict human outcomes only about 8 percent of the time. The administration plans to expand alternatives such as AI-based modeling, halt primate imports, retrain researchers, and support sanctuaries for retired lab animals using updated NIH funding rules.
The effort builds on recent enforcement actions, including the DOJ’s first federal dogfighting conviction involving a firearm and the rescue of 190 dogs connected to former NFL player LeShon Johnson, the largest single-defendant seizure on record.
“This is about protecting the most vulnerable,” Bondi said, while Kennedy added that a truly humane nation is judged by how it treats its animals.
References:
Fox News - Trump administration launches multi-agency 'strike force' to crack down on animal abuse