Washington, D.C. (WDNews) –
President Donald Trump has signed the HALT Fentanyl Act into law, marking what he called a “historic step” in the fight against drug trafficking and overdose deaths across the United States.
The new law permanently classifies all fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I narcotics, placing them in the same legal category as heroin and LSD. The legislation imposes mandatory minimum sentences of 10 years for anyone caught trafficking these synthetic opioids.
“With this bill, we are officially and permanently classifying all fentanyl-related substances as Schedule 1 narcotics,” President Trump said during the signing ceremony. “Anyone caught trafficking these illicit poisons will be punished with a mandatory 10-year minimum sentence in prison.”
The law aims to close loopholes that have allowed traffickers to modify chemical compounds and skirt legal consequences. Trump said these small changes have led to the creation of even deadlier variations, like carfentanil, which is up to 100 times more potent than fentanyl.
Joined by grieving families who lost loved ones to fentanyl overdoses, the president pledged to bring justice to victims.
“We strike a righteous blow to the drug dealers, narcotic traffickers, and criminal cartels that we’ve all been hearing so much about for so many years,” Trump said. “And very little has been done—until now.”
Greg Swan, a father from Michigan, spoke emotionally about losing his son Drew to a fentanyl-laced pill. “His passing ruined my life,” Swan said. “But we’ve been able to find some purpose by going out and advocating.”
Anne Fundner, whose 15-year-old son Weston died after taking a pill under peer pressure, said, “This is what we voted for, Mr. President. God bless you… and God bless America.”
The HALT Fentanyl Act received bipartisan support in Congress. It also gives expanded powers to federal law enforcement and includes new funding for anti-trafficking efforts along waterways—part of what Trump described as the largest investment in the U.S. Coast Guard since World War II.
The president also reaffirmed his administration’s hardline immigration and border policies, linking the fentanyl crisis to cartel activity and border security failures under the previous administration.
“All fentanyl-related substances will be banned forever,” Trump said. “Those who traffic in these deadly poisons will be put behind bars for a long time.”
WDNews will continue to follow developments surrounding the enforcement and impact of this legislation.
