U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins visited the Animal Rescue League of Iowa on Tuesday to discuss federal efforts to strengthen enforcement of animal welfare regulations and address violations at dog-breeding facilities.
During the visit, Rollins said the U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to increase its enforcement workforce by 20% and focus on breeders with histories of noncompliance. She identified Iowa and Missouri among the states receiving particular attention.
Rollins said the agency is moving beyond issuing citations and plans to take more direct action against facilities that repeatedly violate the Animal Welfare Act.
The USDA also plans to strengthen licensing requirements, clarify rules for humane animal care and increase oversight of procedures involving surgeries, dental care and euthanasia. Rollins said those procedures must be performed by licensed veterinarians under the agency’s planned approach.
According to the USDA, the agency conducted more than 2,000 inspections of dog breeders and brokers in 2026. The department also reported denying or terminating eight breeder licenses, suspending six licenses and revoking five licenses during the year.
Rollins appeared alongside U.S. Representative Zach Nunn, an Iowa Republican who represents the state’s 3rd Congressional District. Nunn has supported legislation intended to strengthen federal oversight of dog breeders and is a co-sponsor of Goldie’s Act, House Resolution 349.
The proposed legislation would require the USDA to share more detailed inspection findings with state and local officials and conduct follow-up inspections when violations are identified. The bill has not yet been approved by either chamber of Congress.
The USDA’s announced enforcement efforts come as the agency faces legal challenges over its handling of animal welfare regulations. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals filed a lawsuit in 2024 challenging the USDA’s licensing of three Iowa dog breeders. The lawsuit alleges the breeders were involved in a puppy-laundering scheme intended to conceal the origins of dogs sold to retailers.
The ASPCA is seeking to expand its lawsuit, arguing that the USDA has failed to adequately enforce existing animal welfare requirements. These claims remain allegations in ongoing litigation and have not been established as findings of the court.
The USDA’s planned regulatory changes and enforcement measures are intended to improve oversight of dog-breeding facilities and address violations of federal animal welfare standards.
Source: Information attributed to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and reporting by Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Additional sources: Goldie’s Act — Congress.gov | Iowa Capital Dispatch report on the ASPCA lawsuit
