Target: U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy
Goal: Prevent euthanasia and ensure full sanctuary placement with federal funding for 200 CDC research macaques, while accelerating reliable non-animal methods.
Reports indicate the CDC may end monkey research by year’s end, affecting about 200 macaques used mainly in HIV prevention studies. Science magazine notes two possible outcomes for these animals. Some may be euthanized. Others may be transferred to sanctuaries. Advocates applaud the policy shift toward human-relevant science. However, the immediate risk to living animals remains serious if placements and funding fail.
Sanctuary leaders confirm federal outreach about intake yet warn costs could overwhelm limited capacity. Pro-research groups argue a rushed phaseout could harm ongoing studies without robust alternatives. Federal animal care programs oversee thousands of nonhuman primates, so the decisions made now will set a national template for what happens next.
A humane transition can protect both animals and science. HHS should commit to zero euthanasia for healthy monkeys, fully fund lifetime care at accredited sanctuaries, and publish a transparent rehousing plan with timelines and oversight. Where researchers claim critical need, require rapid validation of non-animal models and public reporting. This petition calls for a humane, well-funded exit that spares every macaque and builds trustworthy replacements for animal use.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Secretary Kennedy,
We respectfully urge you to direct a humane transition in the reported CDC phaseout of monkey research. About 200 macaques could face uncertain outcomes, including possible euthanasia, if sanctuary placements and funding fall short. Sanctuary representatives have reportedly been contacted about intake capacity, yet they have raised serious concerns about cost and scale.
If the CDC is ending these studies, please ensure a publicly posted plan that guarantees zero euthanasia for healthy animals, federal funding for lifetime sanctuary care, and transparent transfer schedules with independent oversight. For studies that researchers claim cannot stop immediately, require rapid validation of human-based alternatives and regular public updates so the phaseout does not compromise safety or trust.
We support the shift to modern methods. We ask that it be done in a way that protects the monkeys who have already paid the price of past research. Please set a national standard that is ethical, careful, and complete.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Charles J. Sharp
