--- title: "FDA updates rules to reduce animal testing in research" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/fda-updates-rules-to-reduce-animal-testing-in-research" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/fda-updates-rules-to-reduce-animal-testing-in-research" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/fda-updates-rules-to-reduce-animal-testing-in-research.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/fda-updates-rules-to-reduce-animal-testing-in-research" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-09-21T22:45:51.954Z" source_reported: "2026-09-21T22:11:44.000Z" updated: "2026-09-21T22:45:51.954Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 65 hype_score: 41 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-22T00:45:35.974397+00:00" --- # FDA updates rules to reduce animal testing in research *New regulations replace 'animal tests' with 'nonclinical tests' and support human-based research.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Central claims attributed to named bodies, but key details rely on anonymous sourcing and lack of specific dates. - Craft 65 of 100, higher is better. Reporting includes quotes from affected parties and explains why the story matters, but lacks detail on future actions. - Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. Headline promises a significant shift, but the body of the text indicates a more gradual regulatory update. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - The FDA is updating regulations to remove language that implies animal testing is the sole acceptable method for generating safety data for regulatory decisions. - The new rule replaces terms like 'animal tests' with 'nonclinical tests' to align with the FDA Modernization Act 2.0. - The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a department-wide initiative to accelerate human-based research and reduce reliance on animal testing. - HHS stated that these changes are expected to spare hundreds of non-human primates and over a million horseshoe crabs annually. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is updating its regulations to remove language that could suggest animal testing is the only acceptable method for generating safety information for regulatory decisions. The agency's new rule replaces terms such as 'animal tests' and 'animal studies' with the broader terms 'nonclinical tests' and 'nonclinical studies'. This change aligns the regulations with the FDA Modernization Act 2.0, which was enacted in 2022. The FDA's action is part of a broader initiative announced by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to accelerate human-based research and reduce reliance on animal testing across its agencies. HHS stated that its agencies, including the FDA, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), have launched more than 20 initiatives. These efforts aim to modernize how the federal government conducts, funds, and evaluates biomedical research. HHS indicated that some of these changes are expected to spare hundreds of non-human primates and more than one million horseshoe crabs annually. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced more than $88 million in biomedical infrastructure investments to support human-based research. The NIH also plans to establish a new laboratory at the NIH Clinical Center that will combine human organoids, robotics, artificial intelligence, and advanced data capabilities. Additionally, the NIH is seeking to add scientists with human-based research expertise to its grant-review process and is assessing the feasibility of annually reporting the number of live vertebrate animals used at NIH-funded institutions. ## Disagreement on timing of initiatives The Epoch Times digest states that HHS has launched more than 20 initiatives toward these goals during President Donald Trump's administration. In contrast, Florida's Voice digest states the department said the moves expand more than 20 initiatives launched since Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took office. ## What the coverage left out No left- or centre-rated outlet reported on this story. The unrated reports from Animal Wellness Action and The Center for a Humane Economy mention that the FDA's rule and the bipartisan FDA Modernization Act 3.0 are not identical, with the latter containing a statutory technical correction that the FDA cannot make through regulation. This detail was not mentioned in any of the right-rated reports. ## Who covered it Shares of the 7 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 0% (0) - Centre: 0% (0) - Right: 100% (7) 2 of 9 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-22T00:45:35.974397+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 10 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-22T01:30:20.296Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left No separate framing summary. ### Centre No separate framing summary. ### Right - Right-rated reports focused on the shift away from animal testing and the modernization of biomedical research. Several outlets highlighted that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is accelerating human-based research and reducing reliance on animal testing. The Dallas Express News and wbap.com reported that HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated, 'We are moving HHS toward a new era of biomedical research that puts human biology at the center of science.' The Epoch Times digest noted that HHS has launched more than 20 initiatives toward these goals during President Donald Trump’s administration. American Greatness digest mentioned RFK Jr. announcing moves to phase out animal testing. Washington Examiner digest reported that Trump administration health agencies are fast-tracking the end of animal testing. News-pravda.com digest quoted HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. saying, 'We are modernizing outdated regulations, investing in human-based technologies, and breaking down barriers that have kept...' **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - veryLow: 1 - low: 1 - mixed: 2 - high: 3 - unknown: 2 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [The Epoch Times](https://theepochtimes.com/us/hhs-makes-more-strides-to-curb-animal-testing-in-labs-modernize-biomedical-research-6092977) — HHS Makes More Strides to Curb Animal Testing in Labs, Modernize Biomedical Research - [Florida’s Voice](https://flvoicenews.com/hhs-accelerates-human-based-research-reduces-animal-testing) — HHS accelerates human-based research, reduces animal testing - [Animal Wellness Action](https://animalwellnessaction.org/hhs-moves-to-scale-down-animal-use-in-research-and-testing) — HHS Moves to Scale Down Animal Use in Research and Testing - [American Greatness](https://amgreatness.com/2026/09/21/rfk-jr-announces-latest-moves-to-phase-out-animal-testing-in-scientific-research) — RFK Jr. Announces Latest Moves to Phase Out Animal Testing in Scientific Research › American Greatness - [The Dallas Express News](https://dallasexpress.com/health/hhs-accelerates-shift-to-human-based-research-reduces-animal-testing) — HHS Accelerates Shift To Human-Based Research, Reduces Animal Testing - [wbap.com](https://wbap.com/2026/09/21/hhs-accelerates-shift-to-human-based-research-reduces-animal-testing) — HHS Accelerates Shift To Human-Based Research, Reduces Animal Testing - [news-pravda.com](https://news-pravda.com/world/2026/09/21/2609427.html) — BREAKING: HHS Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. effective immediately is SHIFTING AWAY FURTHER from cruel, inhumane and unnecessary animal testing — announcing a direct final rule from the FDA and actions from NIH - [The Center for a Humane Economy](https://centerforahumaneeconomy.org/hhs-moves-to-scale-down-animal-use-in-research-and-testing) — HHS Moves To Scale Down Animal Use In Research And Testing - [Washington Examiner](https://washingtonexaminer.com/policy/healthcare/4735599/trump-health-agencies-fast-track-end-animal-testing) — Trump health agencies fast-track end to animal testing ## Questions **What is the FDA changing about its regulations?** The FDA is updating its regulations to remove language that could suggest animal testing is the only acceptable way to generate safety information for regulatory decisions. The agency is replacing terms like 'animal tests' with 'nonclinical tests' to align with the FDA Modernization Act 2.0. **What is the broader goal of these changes?** The changes are part of a department-wide effort by HHS to accelerate human-based research and reduce reliance on animal testing. This aims to modernize how the federal government conducts, funds, and evaluates biomedical research, putting human biology at the center of science. **How many animals might be spared annually?** HHS stated that these changes are expected to spare hundreds of non-human primates and more than one million horseshoe crabs annually. This is a projected impact of the new regulations and broader initiatives. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/fda-updates-rules-to-reduce-animal-testing-in-research. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "FDA updates rules to reduce animal testing in research", https://mediabias.news/politics/fda-updates-rules-to-reduce-animal-testing-in-research