The group known as the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) sent a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Navy Secretary John Phelan on Thursday, expressing gratitude to the Trump administration for its recent decision to halt Navy-funded experiments on dogs and cats. In their letter, PETA also called for an expansive ban on all animal testing across every branch of the military.
Phelan on Tuesday terminated all Department of the Navy testing on cats and dogs, saving taxpayer dollars and ending these inhumane studies.
In a video shared on a platform, Phelan remarked, “This decision is indeed long overdue.” He also announced his plans to instruct the Navy’s surgeon general to conduct a thorough review of all medical research initiatives to confirm they are consistent with ethical standards, scientific requirements, and the Navy’s fundamental values of integrity and preparedness.
Additionally, on Thursday, PETA pressed the Department of Defense to initiate a similar extensive, agency-wide examination to eliminate inefficiency, misuse of funds, and unethical practices in outdated animal testing methods.
PETA also requested in the letter that Defense Department officials prohibit funding of tests on animals at foreign institutions.
In one experiment in Canada, which is receiving $429,347 in DOD funding, a University of Alberta experimenter is using dogs as “models” of a muscle wasting disease.
In another ongoing DOD-funded foreign experiment in Australia, which is receiving $599,984, a James Cook University researcher is burning 30% of rats’ body surface with scalding water and into their livers, inflicting an “[u]ncontrolled hemorrhage.”
The Department of Defense, Secretary of the Navy’s office and Navy Office of Information did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.
