STATEMENT: Congress takes a step forward and step backward on animal testing policies at NIH

Latest congressional appropriations package funds the government for the 2026 fiscal year

WASHINGTON (Feb. 3, 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 Health and Human Services, which includes the National Institutes of Health, among other federal agencies.

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

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.

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.