It’s my privilege to share our Humane Scorecard for the first session of the 119th Congress. The scorecard tracks key co-sponsorships, votes and other animal-friendly actions by federal lawmakers. It’s an accountability tool we use to cultivate greater awareness among legislators as well as incentives for their future commitment. Please look to see how your senators and congressional representative scored; the scorecard is something you can share with others who care about animals, too.
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s announcement last week that it will suspend until December 31, 2026, the implementation of regulatory reforms designed to protect horses from soring conceals a bitter truth. In further stalling its enforcement of a final rule to prevent a stone-cold cruelty, the agency has abdicated its responsibility to protect horses under the Horse Protection Act, as directed by Congress. The announcement itself is proof.
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
For years, successive UK governments, including the current one, have promised to ban trophy hunting imports from certain kinds of imperiled wild animals, such as the severed heads and feet from elephants, lions and rhinos. In recent years, three bills have been introduced to stop British hunters from bringing home trophy souvenirs, two of which came close to becoming law.
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
There’s some good news for animals in the funding packages for the U.S. Department of Interior and the U.S. Department of Justice that passed the Senate last week and were just signed into law.
These wins are the result of animal advocates—both us and our allies—who never wavered in the view that the protection of animals matters, and that it’s something that the American people want. Here are the animal welfare wins in the FY2026 funding packages:
Gray wolves and grizzly bears saved
Trump administration’s attempt to undermine UK Government commitment against trophy hunting imports puts wildlife around the globe in danger
Humane World for Animals says U.S. approach is misinformed and causes inexcusable animal cruelty
WASHINGTON (Jan.16, 2026)—Wildlife and conservation advocates from Humane World for Animals and Humane World Action Fund (formerly called Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society International and Humane Society Legislative Fund) issued the following statements on the news that the U.S. government has pressed the UK government to abandon its pledge to end trophy hunting imports:
STATEMENT: Wild horses, endangered wildlife protections maintained as Congress delivers funding win for animals
Latest congressional appropriations package demonstrates continued bipartisan support for animal welfare policies
WASHINGTON (January 15, 2026)—Humane World Action Fund, formerly called Humane Society Legislative Fund, issued the following statement on Congress passing a FY2026 funding package for the U.S. Department of Interior and U.S. Department of Justice among other federal agencies.
Wild animals in the crosshairs as U.S. government seeks to open hunting on more public lands
Original vision for American conservation pushed aside for trophy hunting special interest groups
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
As we enter 2026, the speed at which global events unfold can feel overwhelming and the future can feel uncertain. It is also true, though, that good things are happening: Every day, all over the world, people are giving their voices to the voiceless, taking a stand for animals who cannot advocate for themselves. In that sense, every single day marks progress toward the more humane world we are trying to achieve in every country where our teams are active.
