SAFE Act of 2025

This bill would make it illegal to kill horses and other equines for people to eat in the United States. The ban also covers shipping, selling, donating, or otherwise handling equines or equine parts if they are meant to be eaten by people. Breaking the law could lead to a fine. There is a narrow exception for activities by an Indian for a religious ceremony. The rules apply to actions that involve interstate or foreign commerce, or occur in certain U.S. jurisdictions outside the states. Today, there are already no federally inspected horse slaughter plants operating in the U.S. because Congress has blocked funding for inspections; this bill would make the prohibition permanent by law.

To do this, the bill updates existing animal slaughter law that already bans the killing of dogs and cats for human consumption, adding equines to those protections.

• Who is affected: Anyone who might slaughter, ship, sell, buy, or give away equines or equine parts for people to eat.
• What changes: Equines would be clearly and permanently protected from slaughter for human food under federal law, with fines for violators; dog and cat protections remain in place.
• When it matters: Once enacted, the ban would apply wherever federal law reaches, including interstate and foreign commerce and certain U.S. jurisdictions; it would not cover certain Indian religious ceremonies.