A bipartisan coalition is taking aim at animal research
A Growing Political Alliance Challenges Animal Research
Bharatmorningnews.com – A remarkable cross-section of American politics has united against the use of animals in scientific laboratories. Mainstream Democrats, progressive activists, right-wing populists, libertarians, and members of the MAGA movement now share a common objective. This coalition is already achieving tangible results in reshaping how biomedical research operates across the nation.
The Oregon Primate Center Under Scrutiny
West of Portland, Oregon, approximately 5,000 monkeys inhabit the suburban landscape. Nestled behind residential homes at the terminus of a lengthy road featuring a security checkpoint, the Oregon National Primate Research Centre presents an almost pastoral setting. Towering fir trees and magnificent sequoias create an atmosphere reminiscent of a woodland retreat.
For almost ten years, immunologist Brandon Wilder has conducted malaria research using these primates. Malaria, transmitted by mosquitoes, claims over half a million lives annually worldwide. Dr. Wilder acknowledges the emotional difficulty of observing animals confined in cages, yet maintains that human welfare justifies the practice.
It’s not easy, and no one enjoys seeing an animal in a cage
His research on immune system responses to malaria recently received acceptance in Nature, among the most distinguished scientific publications globally. Scientists hope this breakthrough could advance the creation of a universal malaria vaccine—a milestone researchers have pursued for decades. Beyond malaria, ONPRC scientists investigate HIV, dementia, and infertility.
Political Pressure Mounts
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., serving as America’s health secretary, has committed to terminating animal experimentation. He asserted that the nation’s seven federally-funded primate research facilities, with ONPRC being the largest, operate with profit motives. In February, the National Institutes of Health—providing ONPRC with roughly $50 million annually—suggested transforming the facility into an animal sanctuary. By July, officials determined this approach too costly and withdrew the proposal. Oregon Health and Sciences University, which manages the center, subsequently declared plans to progressively reduce primate research.
Animals serve throughout the biomedical research continuum, from foundational disease studies to pre-clinical drug safety evaluations. Mice and rats comprise the majority of test subjects. Monkeys represent fewer than one percent of all animals utilized in American research. However, their evolutionary proximity to humans enhances their scientific value while simultaneously intensifying public opposition to primate experimentation.
White Coat Waste and the Right-Wing Movement
Historically, animal testing opposition resided primarily within progressive circles. That dynamic has shifted considerably. Anthony Bellotti, a veteran Republican strategist, now leads the right-wing challenge through his organization, White Coat Waste. The group characterizes animal research as wasteful spending and connects it to conservative priorities.
During President Trump’s initial term, Mr. Bellotti launched campaigns suggesting that imprudent animal experiments caused the coronavirus pandemic, referencing research conducted at a Wuhan laboratory. By January 2025, when Mr. Trump resumed the presidency, White Coat Waste had dedicated four years building Republican partnerships and identifying laboratories for potential targeting.
I don’t care about the science. I’m the guy who cuts the money
In April of the previous year, Justin Goodman, Mr. Bellotti’s deputy, convened with Jay Bhattacharya, the NIH director. According to Mr. Goodman, Dr. Bhattacharya expressed strong support for White Coat Waste and promised to eliminate research involving cats, dogs, and primates. The NIH declined to provide comment when contacted.
High-Profile Advocates
Laura Loomer, a prominent right-wing activist wielding considerable influence within Trump’s circle, serves as one of Mr. Bellotti’s most effective spokespeople. She characterizes scientists performing animal experiments as abusers comparable to serial killers. Ms. Loomer recounted describing alleged experimental procedures to Mr. Trump, who responded with disgust, labeling them sick and disgusting. She has also advocated before Mr. Kennedy and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, both of whom have reduced animal research within their respective departments.
While Democrats typically resisted Mr. Trump’s broader science funding reductions, animal research emerged as an exception. In November, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced the closure of a primate laboratory primarily dedicated to HIV research.
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