Animal Research Restrictions in House FY 2027 Labor-HHS Appropriation Bill

By: Galen Cobb
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
On June 9, the House Appropriations Committee approved the fiscal year (FY) 2027 Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (L-HHS) appropriations bill, including two provisions with implications for federally funded animal research.

Section 236 would prohibit the use of appropriated funds for National Institutes of Health (NIH)-supported research on dogs or cats classified in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) pain categories D or E, with three exceptions: research involving dogs as companion animals, research that NIH determines has no viable alternative, and research that permits post-research adoption or rehoming of the animals. The bill language provides no details on the application of these exceptions; the accompanying report language clarifies that any one exception is sufficient to permit the research.

Section 249 would prohibit the use of appropriated funds for vertebrate animal research studying the effects of drugs, surgery, or other interventions intended to alter the human body to no longer correspond to its biological sex.

The accompanying report language overall takes a more balanced and science-aligned approach to  animal research and alternatives than in prior years. The report explicitly recognizes the continuing and essential role of non-human primates and other validated animal models across virtually all areas of biomedical research, with particular emphasis on their contributions to understanding neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and chronic pain. While issuing strong support for the development and adoption of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) in several provisions, the report also encourages NIH to establish a validation framework for NAMs and apply them where scientifically justified. The report also emphasizes interagency coordination on shared priorities, including through the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM) and more directly between NIH and other agencies. As is the case with all report language, these provisions are not legally binding.

FASEB continues to monitor the FY2027 appropriations process and will track these provisions as the bill advances through Congress.