The CARGO Act of 2025 would prohibit the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from funding animal research conducted outside the United States. According to the bill, Congress found that between 2011 and 2021, the NIH awarded approximately $2.2 billion to foreign organizations for animal research, yet lacks the ability to inspect these foreign facilities or adequately oversee animal welfare standards, relying instead on self-reporting by recipients. The bill's sponsors argue this oversight gap has led to animal mistreatment. The legislation would apply to all forms of NIH support—grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, and technical assistance—for any research involving live animals, though it would allow funding for animal research conducted in U.S. states, territories, and possessions. The bill was introduced in May 2025 and referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
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