USC could lose federal funding thanks to animal care 'crisis,' memo says

USC could lose significant federal funding if a severe “staffing crisis” in its animal research program isn’t addressed soon, according to a scathing internal memo circulated last week.

The warning — issued by the department that handles lab animals used in university research and teaching — outlined several stopgap measures meant to cope with a staff shortage that it blamed on USC’s ongoing hiring freeze.

Those measures include delaying the purchase of new animals, cleaning facilities less often, and suspending the sterilization of animal racks, which the memo described as a “key biosafety measure.”

“This is all to prevent serious research disruptions,” wrote Ari Aycock-Williams, director of the Department of Animal Resources, in the memo. “If attrition continues, this crisis will quickly escalate to unobserved animals, animal welfare noncompliance, research project delays, loss of accreditation, loss of all federal funding, and reputational damage that far outweigh any perceived savings.”

The memo was referring to the accreditation that allows USC to perform research on animals.

When asked for comment on this story a week after the memo first circulated, a USC spokesperson suggested that the school will resume hiring for the “highest university priorities,” including at the Department of Animal Resources. The blanket freeze on other staff hiring will remain in place.

Aycock-Williams did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

This is not the first of USC’s animal research troubles. In April, Stop Animal Exploitation Now, a national watchdog group, asked federal officials to revoke the school’s funding for lab research on animals, citing several violations of animal welfare laws. The same group called for USC to face fines months prior when federal inspectors found that researchers grossly abused three rabbits in an experiment.

The animal department’s staffing woes are the latest symptom of a budget crisis that has seen USC mandate sweeping spending cuts, including March’s hiring freeze, in an attempt to curtail its operating deficit.

USC has blamed inflation, rising insurance costs, lackluster graduate student enrollment, increases in financial aid, and “the rising cost of college athletics” — among other things — for its deficit, which preceded the second Trump administration.

“All commitments to federal animal care guidelines will continue to be honored,” a USC spokesperson wrote. “The emergency measures described by our Department of Animal Resources are intended to help ensure that USC continues to meet or exceed these federal guidelines.”

Still, the memo raised alarm bells among animal welfare activists.

“This document does nothing but increase our concerns,” said Michael Budkie, executive director of Stop Animal Exploitation Now. “They weren’t complying with federal regulations when they had full staff. So what are we going to see now?”

Last week’s memo noted that the Department of Animal Resources is suffering a 17% staff deficit and employs just one clinical vet for all of USC’s campuses. U.S. Department of Agriculture documents show that as of 2023, USC housed at least 356 animals, including four dogs, 46 pigs, and 87 rabbits.

“Practically everything that’s discussed in here points to at least the potential for more violations,” Budkie said. “A 17% staff deficit — that’s significant.”

Tomo Chien can be reached at [email protected].