Animal Welfare in Federal Training

The 2025 National Defense Authorization Act prohibits the U.S. military from shooting pigs and goats in 'live fire' exercises used to train combat medics, shifting battlefield medical training toward advanced human simulators. Championed by Rep. Vern Buchanan, the change is praised by animal‑rights groups like PETA, while other invasive animal-based training and weapons testing on anesthetized animals — including stabbing, burning, blunt-force trauma and non-training 'weapon wounding' — will still be permitted under Defense Department policy. The Defense Health Agency says it is reviewing the new ban as advocates argue that 'cut suit' simulations on humans better replicate treating wounded service members.