New revelations from White Coat Waste (WCW) show a troubling practice at the Naval Medical Research Unit South (NAMRU South) located in Peru. This taxpayer-funded lab is reportedly using threatened monkey species for distressing experiments involving dangerous pathogens such as E. coli and malaria. Journalist Laura Loomer highlighted the findings, stating that “the US Navy lab purchases dozens of primates from the species ‘Nancy Ma’s night monkeys’ and sickens them with malaria, diarrhea, and other illnesses.” This investigation has raised significant concerns about both ethics and fiscal responsibility.
The lab operates at a high biohazard level, raising the stakes for both the animals involved and potential risks to public health. With the experiments classified as high-risk, NAMRU South has been confronted with growing criticism, particularly regarding its treatment of these vulnerable creatures. Videos and images released by WCW reveal the harsh reality faced by the monkeys, including confinement in cages and identification through tattooing.
Active Navy contracts have continued to fund these experiments, raising the question of wastefulness in government spending. WCW has reported that the Defense Department has appropriated more than $28 million for such activity under the current administration. Alarmingly, many of these contracts are set to continue through 2028 unless action is taken. Goodman remarked that “White Coat Waste’s new investigation exposes how the US Naval Medical Research Unit in Peru is wasting tax dollars to purchase threatened primates to abuse in painful and deadly experiments.” Such statements underscore the urgent need for accountability in how taxpayer dollars are utilized.
Advocates, including Goodman, are calling for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Navy Secretary John Phelan to halt these funding contracts, taking a firm stance akin to previous measures taken against more commonly discussed forms of animal testing. The claims echo sentiments felt earlier this year when Secretary Phelan banned testing on dogs and cats after WCW raised similar concerns. The implications of these tests reach beyond animal rights, touching on the integrity of how the government manages funds and prioritizes projects.
The reaction from Loomer adds to this discourse by insisting on the necessity to shut down the lab and stop taxpayer-funded “animal abuse at the US Navy.” Such calls for leadership intervention reflect a growing frustration with what many view as outdated practices of experimenting on animals. As public awareness continues to rise, there is potential for change driven by vocal advocates and ethical concerns surrounding these experiments.
Similar actions have already proven effective, as the CDC has begun phasing out its own primate labs, a decision influenced by WCW’s persistent advocacy. The investigation provides an important window into the complexities of animal testing funded by U.S. taxpayers. This issue encapsulates wider discussions on ethical treatment and the effective allocation of government resources, highlighting a pressing need for reform.
WCW’s findings emphasize a pivotal challenge in balancing scientific inquiry and ethical practices. The time for reassessment is ripe, especially in light of the ongoing critiques of government expenditures towards projects that many consider cruel and unnecessary. Future decisions regarding the funding and legitimacy of these experiments will reveal whether public outrage can influence substantial change in how animal research is conducted under the auspices of federal funding.
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