House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform leaders, Chairman James Comer and Representative John Rose, are requesting the U.S. Department of Agriculture to rescind a rule established during the Biden Administration. This rule, they argue, has caused confusion for those in the horse breeding, training, and ownership sectors.
The committee commenced an investigation into the Biden Administration’s enforcement of the Horse Protection Act (HPA) after receiving complaints about arbitrary enforcement and lack of due process. The final rule in question, titled Horse Protection Amendments, was set for implementation this year but was postponed to February 2026. The lawmakers are advising the USDA to abolish the rule entirely to ensure a straightforward enforcement of the HPA.
In a written communication to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, the lawmakers lauded the Trump Administration for delaying the rule and urged the USDA to abolish it, restoring what they consider a commonsense approach.
Last year, Chairman Comer requested the Office of Inspector General to review the USDA’s HPA implementation policies. The committee also called for USDA document disclosure and issued a subpoena to a key USDA official to further investigate the enforcement process of the HPA and its related rule.
“The Committee discovered significant concerns regarding the enforcement process, particularly regarding inspectors’ behavior and decision-making, and a lack of sufficient transparency and accountability,” the lawmakers noted. They emphasized the absence of a fair appeal process, potentially leading to reputational risks and penalties for horse industry professionals based on flawed judgments. They argue that the rule threatens the horse industry’s stability and is pushing for its abolition.
The committee is urging the USDA to consider immediate reforms to ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability for horse industry participants. The lawmakers requested that their letter be included in the public record for the comment period on the proposed rule.
The letter can be read in its entirety here.
