Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-SC-01) announced that the House-approved National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026 contains measures she introduced to restrict certain types of animal testing by the Department of War. The legislation includes a permanent ban on using taxpayer funds for painful research involving cats and dogs, as well as other forms of animal testing.
The new provisions also prevent Department of War funding from supporting animal research facilities in fiscal year 2026 that are located in or controlled by countries considered adversaries, such as China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia. Additionally, the NDAA bars funding for gain-of-function research on potential pandemic pathogens during the same period.
“There’s no excuse for painful experiments on pets, and absolutely no reason U.S. tax dollars should flow to research facilities run by our adversaries,” said Congresswoman Mace. “These provisions are about protecting animals, protecting taxpayers, and protecting our values. This is a commonsense, bipartisan step toward ending unnecessary animal suffering.”
Mace has advocated for reducing animal testing within federal agencies and promoting humane alternatives to traditional practices. Her previous legislative efforts include leading bills like the Preventing Animal Abuse and Waste Act (PAAW Act), Violet’s Law, the TRANS MICE Act, and supporting bans on mink farming. She has also chaired hearings addressing federal spending on animal research.
Nancy Mace has represented South Carolina’s 1st district in Congress since 2021 after succeeding Joe Cunningham. Before her tenure in Congress, she served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 2018 to 2020. Born in Fort Bragg, North Carolina in 1977, Mace currently resides in Charleston and graduated from The Citadel with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1999.
