Congress’ latest budget bill, which was signed into law by President Obama Jan. 17, cuts funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) inspections of equine slaughterhouses.
Animal rights groups approved the vote, while proponents argue domestic slaughter is the most humane way to deal with a rising number of abused and abandoned horses, according to AgWeb.
Congress first passed the horse slaughter ban in 2006, but it was not renewed in 2011. Since then, numerous lawsuits have occurred between companies wishing to open slaughter facilities and animal rights groups. Last year, plants in New Mexico, Iowa and Missouri received federal permits to open, but have been blocked by a series of court orders.