APHIS Supports Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Management and Research

Press Release
Contact: APHISpress@usda.gov

APHIS Announces Funding for CWD Surveillance, Testing, Management and Response Activities

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 20, 2025—The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will provide approximately $12 million for States and Tribal governments, research institutions, and universities to control and prevent chronic wasting disease (CWD) in wild and farmed cervids (e.g., deer, elk). To more efficiently and quickly move this work forward this year, APHIS will noncompetitively fund the most promising projects to develop new tools or methods, support interested States/Tribes with CWD control programs at the local level and directly indemnify cervid owners with pending indemnity requests.

Funding to States for farmed cervid activities will be based on the State’s CWD status and the number of herds and cervids participating in their CWD Herd Certification Program. States and Tribes eligible for wild cervid activities will be those who have applied for competitive funding at least once during the previous two funding cycles. Approximately $6 million will be provided for critical projects to control and prevent CWD in farmed cervids, while approximately $6 million will support research and management of CWD in wild cervids. APHIS will reach out to States and Tribes to determine interest and then allocate the funding between the interested States and Tribes.

CWD is an infectious, degenerative disease of cervids that causes brain cells to die, ultimately leading to the death of the affected animal. The incubation period can be lengthy, and infected animals may look healthy until the end stages of the disease, making it difficult to distinguish affected animals from healthy animals. Animals infected with CWD can transmit the disease to other animals during the “silent” incubation period. The disease has spread widely and the limited number of tools, as well as their efficacy, impacts the ability to effectively control the disease.

Specifically, these funds will allow for State departments of agriculture, State animal health agencies, State departments of wildlife or natural resources, federally recognized Native American Tribal governments and organizations, and research institutions and universities to further develop and implement CWD research, management, and response activities.

Cooperative agreement funding in previous years has resulted in the development and implementation of predictive genetics to assist farmed cervid owners in breeding for less susceptible deer, the removal of CWD-positive farmed cervid herds, increased diagnostic capabilities, increased CWD surveillance in wild cervid populations, hunter and public education, and carcass disposal options to reduce spread of CWD. This year’s investment will continue supporting critical research and management support needs.