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Independent enforcement updates, regulatory analysis, and practical AWA guidance. Written by a former USDA APHIS Animal Care Compliance Specialist.

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Who Is Leading USDA Animal Care Now — and Why It Matters
Featured · Leadership Watch
Agency Leadership · USDA APHIS
September 2026

Who Is Leading USDA Animal Care Now — and Why It Matters

The people directing APHIS Animal Care help set agency priorities, oversee enforcement resources, and influence how the Animal Welfare Act is administered across the country. Kelly Moore now leads APHIS, Bernadette Juarez has returned to Animal Care, and enforcement leadership has changed hands. Here is what every licensee should understand about the leadership now in place.

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All Issues & Briefs

Congress's Own Researchers Documented APHIS's Enforcement Failures — Here's What They Found
Regulatory Watch
May 2025CRS Report IF13002

Congress's Own Researchers Documented APHIS's Enforcement Failures — Here's What They Found

A nonpartisan Congressional Research Service report found that APHIS has fewer inspectors than last year, is not following its own risk-based inspection system, and has no documented process for handling complaints — while 80% of facilities reviewed were found noncompliant. This report was requested by Congress and represents the most authoritative public assessment of USDA's enforcement posture in years.

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Who Is Really Running Your USDA Inspection?
Opinion & Analysis
June 2026Enforcement & Due Process

Who Is Really Running Your USDA Inspection?

Animal rights organizations have moved from the picket line into the federal enforcement pipeline — filing coordinated complaints that trigger inspections, pursuing FOIA records, and litigating to reshape how USDA issues and renews licenses. The evidence is no longer anecdotal.

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The Shift From Fines to Warnings — and What It Really Means for Your License
Enforcement Update
2024–2026Post-Jarkesy Analysis

The Shift From Fines to Warnings — and What It Really Means for Your License

Only five civil fines were issued in the 14 months after the Jarkesy ruling. That's not a relaxation of enforcement — it's a structural shift. Official Warnings now form the permanent record that leads to license suspension, revocation, and DOJ referral.

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DOGE Cuts and the Inspector Shortfall: What 77 Inspectors Means for 12,382 Facilities
Staffing & Resources
Q4 2025Science/AAAS · Federal News Network

DOGE Cuts and the Inspector Shortfall: What 77 Inspectors Means for 12,382 Facilities

With as few as 77 inspectors now covering 12,382 active licensees, each inspector is theoretically responsible for 160+ facilities. We examine what this means for inspection frequency and enforcement targeting.

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Inspection Prep: The 12 Records Every Licensed Facility Must Have Ready
Documentation Guidance
Ongoing9 CFR Parts 1, 2, 3

Inspection Prep: The 12 Records Every Licensed Facility Must Have Ready

When an inspector walks through your door — unannounced — these are the records they will ask to see first. A practical checklist drawn from 9 CFR and years of inspection experience.

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84-Month Federal Sentence: What the 2025 AWA Prosecution Tells Licensed Operators
Legal Update
2025DOJ Case Analysis

84-Month Federal Sentence: What the 2025 AWA Prosecution Tells Licensed Operators

The most severe AWA-related federal sentence in recent history was handed down in 2025. We break down the conduct that triggered it, and what the case signals about DOJ's new willingness to prosecute.

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