Health Secretary Criticizes Animal Testing Programs

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. strongly criticized animal research over
the weekend. He said his department, which oversees several science agencies,
is “deeply committed to ending animal experimentation.”

Kennedy also called for stopping the import of monkeys for research, claimed that
National Primate Research Centers (NPRCs) are motivated by profit, and suggested
moving research monkeys to sanctuaries. He made these comments Saturday on a Fox
News show.

The biomedical community reacted strongly. “This would be a disaster for research on
infectious diseases, neuroscience, behavior, reproduction, and transplants,” said
tuberculosis using monkeys.