During an interview with NPR, Kleinstreuer admitted the NIH has “no intention of just phasing out animal studies overnight.” That position has put her squarely at odds with figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who vowed earlier this year to enforce a “dramatic reduction in animal testing at NIH.”
In a bid to tamp down criticism following the uproar, Kleinstreuer posted on X (formerly Twitter), insisting her remarks were being mischaracterized. However, she stood firm in defending the use of animals in biomedical research:
"NIH has re-upped grant funds for THC experiments on young monkeys at Harvard University…NIAID has also renewed grants for tick bite experiments on 400 beagle puppies at the University of Columbia-Missouri that were uncovered by a WCW investigation"
🚨🚨🚨 ”We have no intention of just phasing out animal studies overnight. We know that animal studies are still very important and often scientifically justified.” – Nicole Kleinstreuer, Acting Deputy Director, National Institutes of Health (@NIH)
“I have dedicated my career to advancing human-relevant science to replace animal testing, and continue to do so. @NIHDirector_Jay is an ally and a leader in this space and I am lucky to work for him!” Kleinstreuer wrote. “The 1st half, which has been widely and willfully misconstrued, is that we cannot phase out animal tests overnight. We must invest in science to replace them and improve biomedical research and public health protection. Without better science, animal tests unfortunately continue.”
What’s raising conservative eyebrows even further is that PETA — a group long known for extreme stances against animal cruelty — has bizarrely emerged to defend Kleinstreuer’s stance, along with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM). Both organizations now appear to agree with her claim that “animal studies are still very important and often scientifically justified.” Such statements starkly contradict the messaging that PETA has often pushed to its donor base.
Kleinstreuer’s public social media history reveals an ongoing, friendly rapport with PETA since at least 2018. She has also frequently shared posts praising Fauci, a figure many on the right consider one of the prime architects of wasteful and cruel experiments on animals.
The 1st half, which has been widely and willfully misconstrued, is that we cannot phase out animal tests overnight. We must invest in science to replace them and improve biomedical research and public health protection. Without better science, animal tests unfortunately continue.
— Dr. Nicole Kleinstreuer (@NKleinstreuer) June 25, 2025
Meanwhile, real progress in shutting down government animal labs has been largely credited to WCW. The organization has successfully forced the closure of multiple federal animal testing facilities, including monkey and dog labs, over the past decades — victories that groups like PETA often try to claim credit for in the press.
Anthony Bellotti, President of WCW, minced no words in blasting NIH’s stubbornness and its disregard for taxpayer dollars:
DID YOU MISS THE BEST NIH NEWS EVER?@NIH is prioritizing modern, human-relevant research technologies over experiments on animals. We’re grateful to @NKleinstreuer, @NIHDirector_Jay, & @RobertKennedyJr for championing this move.
Thank you for your support! We are deeply committed to advancing human-biology based methods to reduce and replace animal testing and improve public health protection, and it’s great to see recognition of that.
— Dr. Nicole Kleinstreuer (@NKleinstreuer) June 19, 2025
Thank you for your support! We are deeply committed to advancing human-biology based methods to reduce and replace animal testing and improve public health protection, and it’s great to see recognition of that.
— Dr. Nicole Kleinstreuer (@NKleinstreuer) June 18, 2025
“President Trump was right to propose a 40% budget cut to clean out waste and abuse at the broken and bloated NIH. Secretary Kennedy has also long opposed Fauci’s beagle labs—spending first uncovered by White Coat Waste. RFK also just helped ban the Navy’s dog and cat testing after a White Coat Waste investigation and has promised a ‘drastic reduction’ in NIH animal experiments. But NIH bureaucrats are now defying both RFK and Trump—defending and doubling down on Fauci-era animal labs. Nicole Kleinstreuer, an NIH Deputy Director, just told NPR that animal testing is ‘very important and scientifically justified’—Fauci’s exact position.”
Bellotti added further fuel to the fire, condemning the NIH for funding grotesque research, including dosing beagles with cocaine and infecting puppies with ticks — all while spending millions on questionable “alternatives” for studies involving transgender mice and other eyebrow-raising projects:
“While other Trump-aligned agencies are canceling, phasing out, or banning animal tests altogether, NIH has renewed cocaine injections in beagles, re-upped tick infestations on puppies, continues to kill cats in Fauci’s COVID labs, and still tortures monkeys with toy snakes and spiders inside Dr. Bhattacharya’s headquarters. Under Kleinstreuer and Bhattacharya, NIH has even spent millions to start brand-new dog labs. Taxpayers shouldn’t spend another dime developing ‘alternatives’ for transgender mice, beagle cocaine tests, or any other NIH boondoggles. More big government spending won’t save lab animals. Only one thing will: Stop the money. Stop the madness!”
A bipartisan group of 10 U.S. lawmakers are demanding answers from Dr. Anthony Fauci about taxpayer-backed “outdated, unnecessary, and cruel” medical experiments on dogs.https://t.co/FQJOOz6NYq
For conservatives and animal advocates alike, the question looms: Why is NIH clinging to Fauci-era policies and ignoring the push from both the Trump and RFK Jr. camps to end cruel animal experiments once and for all? And how did PETA, once a fierce foe of government animal labs, become an unlikely shield for NIH officials defending practices many Americans find barbaric?
One thing is certain: This scandal is far from over — and voters will be watching to see whether Washington chooses to side with taxpayers and innocent animals, or keep funneling cash into labs of pain.
