A recent report by Senator James Lankford, a Republican from Oklahoma, exposes significant waste in federal spending concerning controversial animal research and the use of aborted fetal tissue. The findings are part of his ninth edition of “Federal Fumbles,” where he highlights the need for reforms within the federal government. In a striking revelation, Lankford pointed out that millions of dollars were squandered on transgender animal experiments, particularly involving beagles in China, along with government-funded research utilizing aborted fetal tissue.
Lankford’s report underscores the challenges that remain in government efficiency and oversight. He reflects on the achievements during the early months of President Donald Trump’s second term, where efforts were made to enhance efficiency and save taxpayer dollars. However, he emphasizes the ongoing need for reform, noting, “Too often, the federal government is gridlocked, unresponsive and inefficient.” This critique highlights a continuing struggle within bureaucratic systems and calls for action to improve government operations.
Among the most concerning items in Lankford’s analysis is the $240 million allocated for transgender experiments that utilized mice, rats, and monkeys to model transgender individuals. This funding, which originated from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), was ultimately terminated by Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency. Lankford described these experiments as attempts “to model transgender adults and children” by administering hormone treatments and surgeries to animals. Such controversial practices raise ethical questions and concern over the direction of government-funded science.
Additionally, the NIH was implicated in granting $53 million for research involving human fetal tissue acquired from elective abortions in 2024. Lankford highlighted that 17 grants related to this research remained active until they were canceled following revelations by the White Coat Waste Project, a watchdog organization that scrutinizes government spending. The Trump administration had previously taken steps to eliminate such funding, viewing it as both morally objectionable and scientifically outdated. Lankford’s call for legislative measures is clear: without a law in place, future administrations could easily revive these projects, placing taxpayer dollars once again behind what he termed “immoral” research.
The senator also stressed the issue of international spending, revealing that $124,000 of taxpayer money went to China for drug research involving beagles. This funding came under national scrutiny, leading to the NIH’s announcement that it would not renew that particular contract. Despite this positive turn, Lankford pointed out that 18 animal research labs in China remain eligible for U.S. funding, some tied to the Chinese Communist Party and the People’s Liberation Army. The implications of funding these facilities raise questions about national security and the ethical responsibility of taxpayer dollars.
As Lankford wraps his findings in “Federal Fumbles,” his analysis not only sheds light on the financial mismanagement within government agencies but also raises significant ethical concerns surrounding the nature of research funded by taxpayers. His call for urgency and reform stresses that while some progress has been made, there is still much ground to cover to ensure accountability and a return to priorities that reflect the values of the nation.
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