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Kennedy Aims to End Animal Testing, Faces Challenges

12/23/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced plans to end federally funded animal testing.
Kennedy said the initiative would target non-human primates in particular.
There are over 100,000 monkeys in U.S. labs, with about 20,000 imported yearly.
Experts caution that AI and other alternatives are not yet ready to replace primate models.
The fate of existing primates remains uncertain.

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Story summary

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced plans to end federally funded animal testing.
Kennedy said the initiative would target non-human primates in particular.
There are over 100,000 monkeys in U.S. labs, with about 20,000 imported yearly.
Experts caution that AI and other alternatives are not yet ready to replace primate models.
The fate of existing primates remains uncertain.