Republicans are calling for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) to end its research projects involving tests on dogs and cats.
The $3.7-million experiments were approved by former NIAID Director Dr. Anthony Fauci and run through April 2025. The recipient of the award is SRI International, the same lab that was involved in cutting dogs’ vocal cords to prevent them from barking during experimentation, watchdog organization White Coat Waste reported in 2021.
“In light of new information contained in this letter, we request that all active NIAID funding for dog and cat research be immediately suspended until NIAID has reviewed dog and cat research approved by Fauci to identify and eliminate spending on unnecessary projects before any more taxpayer money and animals’ lives are wasted,” the letter, led by Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ), reads.
The letter described several experiments that Fauci admitted were “wasteful and unnecessary.”
“We continue to learn about many other inhumane dog and cat experiments funded with tax dollars by Dr. Fauci that are still ongoing during your tenure as NIAID’s Director,” the Reps. wrote to Fauci’s successor Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo.
“The NIAID contract that runs until April 2025 states this repulsive dog testing is ‘required to support clinical use in humans’ but for years the Food and Drug Administration has explicitly stated that it does not require dog testing for human drugs,” the Republicans added.
The letter’s signatories requested information relating to all NIAID-funded grants approved by Fauci that involve dog and cat research both in the United States and in foreign countries.
Republican Reps. Ralph Norman (SC), Nicole Malliotakis (NY), Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA), Clay Higgins (LA), Aaron Bean (FL), Troy Nehls (TX), Nancy Mace (SC), Greg Steube (FL), Matt Gaetz (FL), and Randy Weber (TX) signed the letter.
BREAKING: Citing WCW, House members demand @niaidnews suspend all active dog & cat tests approved & funded by Fauci #Beaglegate
— White Coat Waste Project 🥼🗑️ (@WhiteCoatWaste) September 24, 2024
👏@RepGosar @RepRalphNorman @RepMalliotakis @RepMTG @RepClayHiggins @RepAaronBean @RepTroyNehls @RepNancyMace @RepGregSteube @RepMattGaetz @TXRandy14 pic.twitter.com/8RUTxyMxv2
