The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton A Supreme Court securities case has frozen animal welfare enforcement across thousands of labs
Nov 21, 2025
Ashley Ridgway, a policy advisor and staff attorney at the Animal Welfare Institute, dives into the dramatic drop in Animal Welfare Act fines following the Supreme Court's SEC v. Jarkesy decision. She reveals that fines plummeted from 63 to just 5 in 14 months, raising concerns about enforcement effectiveness. Ridgway and her colleague Joanna Makowska discuss the implications for animal protection, including inspection challenges and legislative efforts to strengthen the Act. They also explore the ongoing use of animals in labs and the limitations of non-animal methods.
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Enforcement Plummeted After Jarkesy
- After the Supreme Court's SEC v. Jarkesy decision, USDA APHIS issued just five Animal Welfare Act fines in the next 14 months versus 63 in the prior 14 months.
- The timing shows a sharp enforcement drop beginning late June/early July 2024 tied to the Jarkesy ruling.
Most Lab Animals Aren't Covered
- The Animal Welfare Act excludes ~90% of research animals, including rats, mice, birds, fish, and many invertebrates.
- That large exclusion means the vast majority of animals used in labs have no AWA-mandated protections or reporting requirements.
Severe Inspector Shortage Limits Oversight
- APHIS had only ~77 inspectors to cover ~17,500 licensees and registrants, implying each inspector would average 227 inspections per year.
- In 2024 APHIS did about 9,700 inspections, leaving roughly 45% of facilities uninspected.