The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) finally released a new audit [PDF]. This comes after years of stakeholder groups and members of Congress asking the OIG, the USDA’s internal government watchdog, to complete a review of the agency’s dog breeder inspection program. The OIG’s audit, while shocking, is not surprising. It confirms the findings from the ASPCA’s 2024 USDA Enforcement Report [PDF], which highlights the agency’s severe lack of enforcement. According to the OIG, the USDA is not doing enough to protect dogs at USDA-licensed facilities. When the agency doesn’t enforce the Animal Welfare Act, thousands of dogs in puppy mills are left without the adequate protection they need — the protection legally required by Congress.

The key points from the new OIG audit include:

• The USDA was not addressing complaints within a timely manner.
• Inspections of USDA-licensed facilities were inconsistent and untimely: 29% of inspections were late, and 57% of inspections were incomplete.
• The problems with the inspection program may have contributed to ongoing violations of the law: 80% of the dog breeders audited had not fully corrected documented animal welfare violations.
• The OIG included recommendations to fix deficiencies within the program. The USDA’s section that inspects these facilities agreed to implement the OIG’s recommendations, including ensuring inspection due dates are met, inspectors are consistent with their findings and a process is developed for better handling of complaints.

The last USDA OIG audit was in 2010 and identified significant flaws that harm dogs. Members of Congress and the public have inquired for years about how the agency has addressed the problems identified 15 years ago. Unfortunately, the new audit confirms that problems persist.

The USDA should act swiftly to make the recommended changes. Additionally, Congress should step up and pass Goldie’s Act, bipartisan legislation that would require the USDA to finally take the necessary steps to protect animals. Goldie’s Act needs your support — please use our online form to urge your members of Congress to cosponsor and promote this critical bill.