We know more today than we did a decade ago: industrial animal farming is cruel to animals, harmful to our health, and a major driver of the climate crisis. Yet billions of public dollars still support this system every year.

Animals raised for food are sentient beings who feel pain, fear, and joy. They are not machines or raw materials. They are here with us, not for us.

At the same time, leading nutrition organizations confirm that well-planned vegetarian and vegan diets can be healthy and nutritionally adequate for all stages of life and can help prevent and manage chronic disease. PubMed+1 We are not trapped in this system; we have better options.

For Our Health

Processed meats like bacon and hot dogs are now classified by the World Health Organization’s cancer research agency as carcinogenic to humans, and red meat as “probably carcinogenic.” World Health Organization+1
At the same time, plant-based diets rich in whole grains, beans, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds are linked to lower risks of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers.

We should not be using public money to make unhealthy food cheaper while healthier plant-based foods remain harder to access.

For the Planet

Animal agriculture is a major climate polluter. Livestock supply chains contribute a significant share of global greenhouse-gas emissions, especially methane, which is a powerful but short-lived greenhouse gas. FAOHome+1
Cutting emissions from this sector is one of the fastest ways we can slow global warming.

Yet our policies still favor feedlots and factory farms over climate-friendly plant-based proteins.

For the Animals

Billions of animals every year live and die in overcrowded sheds, crates, cages, and feedlots. Many never feel the sun or grass. Standard industry practices would be illegal if done to dogs or cats.

A compassionate society should not subsidize this cruelty.

What We Are Asking For

We call on Congress and the President to:

End federal subsidies and tax breaks for industrial animal agriculture, and redirect those funds toward:

Plant-based agriculture
Alternative protein research and development
Programs that improve access to healthy plant-based foods
Fund transition support for farmers and workers who want to move from animal agriculture to plant-based production, so they are not left behind.
Set strong standards for federal food purchasing (schools, hospitals, military, government cafeterias) that prioritize plant-based options and reduce the demand for factory-farmed animal products.
Why This Matters

Moving away from factory farming is not just an “animal issue.” It’s a health issue, a climate issue, a food-justice issue, and a basic compassion issue.

We already have all the knowledge and tools we need to feed people well without propping up cruel and wasteful systems. What we lack is political will.

Our request is simple:
Stop using public money to support factory farming, and start investing in a humane, plant-based food system that protects people, animals, and the planet.

Please add your name and share this petition so our leaders see that voters are ready for a food system that reflects our values.