According to ABC News, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has removed animal welfare inspection reports, enforcement records and related information from its website on Friday, February 3 at approximately 11:00AM.

USDA spokesperson Tanya Espinosa would not say whether the removal of the information was due to the new presidential administration, nor whether the removal was temporary or permanent.

The information, which offered public records detailing people or businesses who had been charged in animal cruelty cases, included violations and whether the violations had been corrected. The information was often used by advocacy groups, as well as members of the public looking for background information on animal breeders they may be considering doing business with.

A statement on the website says the documents were removed due to personal information contained in them related to the Animal Welfare Act and the Horse Protection Act. The statement also said the removal was “based on [the USDA's] commitment to being transparent, remaining responsive to our stakeholders; informational needs and maintaining the privacy rights of individuals.”

The statement, which can be viewed here, says that persons wanting to access the previously public information may do so by submitting Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for said information. The statement does not specify what private information was in question to prompt the removal of the documents.

“What the USDA has done is given cover to people who neglect or harm animals and get cited by USDA inspectors,” animal rights advocate John Goodwin told CBS News.

Goodwin says the removal of documentation and records from the USDA website will immediately affect animal rights advocacy efforts.

Read more at CBS News.

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