The UUA Interdependence value in the 2024 historic revised Article II calls for, among other actions, protecting all beings from exploitation. It's the revised Article II value most directly associated with UUAM. At its November 2024 meeting, the UUAM Board asked whether combining that value with our legally protected religious freedoms will allow us to better protect animals, through specific actions such as students asking for exemption from animal dissections, military service members requesting vegan meals, and family businesses requesting exemptions from government regulations requiring them to use certain animal products. This article argues it does because the Interdependence value is substantially stronger and broader than UUA's earlier official commitments to animals. 

The Supreme Court’s decision on June 28, 2024, in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, marked a significant shift in federal administrative law by overturning the Chevron Doctrine, which had guided judicial deference to federal agencies’ interpretations of ambiguous statutes for 40 years. This ruling, decided along ideological lines with all six conservative justices voting to overturn and all three progressive justices dissenting, could profoundly impact the ability of federal agencies to enforce regulations, including those protecting animals. The article explores the history and rationale behind Chevron, the implications of its demise, particularly for animal protection, and potential strategies to mitigate negative effects.