Comer Calls on OIG to Initiate Review of USDA’s Enforcement of the Horse Protection Act

Requests additional USDA documents and communications to better understand how the department has enforced the HPA

WASHINGTON—House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) is conducting oversight of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) enforcement of the Horse Protection Act (HPA) and its promulgation of a final rule titled Horse Protection Amendments. Considering information obtained by the Oversight Committee and recent actions at Tennessee Walking Horse shows, it appears the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has, at times, exceeded its HPA authority in inspections related to horse shows. In a letter to Inspector General Phyllis K. Fong, Chairman Comer requests the Office of Inspector General (OIG) initiate a review of the USDA’s policies and practices regarding implementation of the HPA and its impact on the horse show industry. In a letter to USDA Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack, Chairman Comer seeks additional documents and communications to better understand how USDA has enforced the HPA and how it intends to enforce the HPA after the effective dates of the final rule.

“According to information received by the Committee, USDA officials have in fact arbitrarily changed commonly accepted practices through e-mail updates mere hours before a competition, haphazardly disqualified horses based on inconsistent inspection methodology, and refused to engage with industry stakeholders in a context where there is no appeals process for USDA-disqualified horses. The Committee has also received allegations that USDA disqualified horses for a competition without basis and as retribution for a lawsuit filed against USDA by impacted stakeholders in the horse show industry. We ask that you undertake a review of any retaliatory actions taken against the horse show industry by USDA in response to critical observations of USDA’s stewardship of the HPA or its new final rule titled Horse Protection Amendments,” Chairman Comer wrote to Inspector General Fong.

Specifically, the Committee has received allegations that the Assistant Director of USDA’s APHIS, sent an e-mail to horse show representatives on new competition inspection requirements two hours prior to a competition without warning or prior notification of forthcoming guidance.

“USDA’s delegation of authority to APHIS to administer pre-and post-show horse inspections appears to have been used as retribution against horse owners’ and trainers’ efforts to exercise their legal rights and harmed their ability to earn a living,” Chairman Comer wrote to Secretary Vilsack. “The Committee has concerns regarding USDA’s compliance with the HPA in light of recent actions at Tennessee Walking Horse shows. We write to request documents and communications to better understand how USDA has enforced the HPA and how it intends to enforce the HPA after the effective dates of the final rule.”

Read the letter to USDA Inspector General Fong here.

Read the letter to USDA Secretary Vilsack here.