WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. hosted a “Strike Force” Roundtable in Washington, D.C., bringing together senior federal officials and animal welfare leaders to discuss strengthening protections for dogs and advancing coordinated efforts to address serious and chronic animal welfare violations.

The roundtable included Secretary Rollins; Secretary Kennedy; U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro; USDA Inspector General John Walk; USDA Animal Care Deputy Administrator Bernadette Juarez; and senior Department of Justice officials. Representing Big Dog Ranch Rescue (BDRR) were Lara Trump, Director; Lauree Simmons, Founder and CEO; and Jordana Cohen, Legal Policy & Development Advisor.

The discussion centered on coordination among federal agencies and animal welfare leaders, strengthening protections for dogs, enforcement of federal animal welfare requirements and efforts to reduce the use of dogs in research. Earlier in 2026, USDA, DOJ and HHS announced a coordinated federal effort focused on chronic dog welfare violators and the enforcement of existing animal welfare laws.

The roundtable highlighted three key priorities moving forward:

1. Strengthening Enforcement and Accountability Under Federal Animal Welfare Laws

Federal agencies emphasized continued coordination to identify chronic violators, address inhumane breeding and dog fighting, pursue enforcement actions and hold repeat offenders accountable under federal animal welfare laws.

2. Phasing Out Dog Testing and Advancing Alternative Testing Methods

The discussion addressed efforts to replace, reduce and refine the use of dogs and other animals in research while advancing alternative, non-animal testing methods that maintain sound science and deliver effective results. 

3. Expanding Coordination with Animal Welfare and Rescue Organizations

Participants emphasized continued collaboration among federal agencies, law enforcement, animal welfare advocates and rescue organizations to strengthen protections, improve compliance and intervene when animals are at risk.

“Today’s discussion brought together federal leadership, law enforcement and animal welfare advocates around a shared commitment to protecting animals, strengthening enforcement, phasing out the use of dogs in testing and moving toward alternative testing methods,” said Lauree Simmons, Founder and CEO of Big Dog Ranch Rescue. “Thanks to President Trump and the leaders in his administration, historic progress has been made in animal welfare — an issue important to many Americans that is now no longer being ignored. By working together, we can protect more animals, stop abuse before it happens and create a future where dogs are no longer used in laboratory testing.”

About Big Dog Ranch Rescue

Founded in 2008, Big Dog Ranch Rescue (BDRR) is the largest cage-free, no-kill dog rescue in the United States. The nonprofit has saved more than 93,000 dogs through rescue and transport, advanced veterinary care, rehabilitation, adoption, disaster response, community outreach and its Veteran Service Dog Training Program.