Trump Signs Bipartisan HALT Fentanyl Act to Toughen Penalties for Traffickers

President Donald Trump signed new bipartisan legislation Wednesday aimed at cracking down on the illicit trafficking of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid driving America’s overdose crisis.

The Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl (HALT Fentanyl) Act places all fentanyl-related substances — including copycat synthetic versions — on the US Drug Enforcement Administration’s Schedule I list, classifying them as among the nation’s most dangerous drugs under the Controlled Substances Act.

The bill, passed by both chambers of Congress with bipartisan support, strengthens criminal penalties for those caught possessing, importing, distributing, or manufacturing illicit fentanyl-related substances (FRS). According to a White House document, violators will now face prosecution similar to other Schedule I controlled substances.

“First, we close the loopholes criminals use to skirt around the law. Second, we make it easier for law enforcement to prosecute those criminals,” the document reads.

Trump hosted a signing ceremony at the White House Wednesday alongside congressional leaders, law enforcement organizations, and families who have lost loved ones to fentanyl poisoning. Speakers included Anne Funder, an activist whose 15-year-old son Weston died from fentanyl poisoning, Gregory Swan of Fentanyl Fathers, and Jacqueline Siegel, founder of Victoria’s Voice, an organization created in memory of her daughter Victoria.

House Speaker Mike Johnson and GOP Senators Chuck Grassley and Bill Cassidy attended the event. Cassidy introduced the legislation in the Senate with Democratic Senator Martin Heinrich.

Trump has repeatedly cited the fentanyl crisis as one reason for his administration’s tariff threats against Canada, Mexico, and China, arguing that drug cartels exploit regulatory loopholes to flood the US with new, unregulated synthetic fentanyl variants.

While the HALT Fentanyl Act has earned broad support, some critics caution that the law may lead to harsher sentences for non-violent offenders, especially impacting Black Americans and communities struggling with addiction.

The White House acknowledged these concerns but emphasized the bill’s focus on traffickers rather than users.

Supporters of the bill include the Fraternal Order of Police, the Center for Immigration Studies, and the Federation for American Immigration Reform.

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