United States: Trump Signs New Bill to Intensify War on Fentanyl Trafficking

Edited By: Aminata Diallo

On July 16, 2025, President Donald Trump signed into law the “Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act,” a legislative measure aimed at strengthening prison sentences for individuals involved in the illegal trade of fentanyl-related substances. The signing ceremony took place in the East Room of the White House, in the presence of families affected by the opioid crisis.

“We are going to remove drug traffickers, dealers, and pushers from our streets,” Trump declared before signing the bill, underscoring his administration’s hardline stance on narcotics trafficking.

The law permanently classifies all illicit fentanyl analogues under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act—the strictest category reserved for drugs with a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use, alongside substances like heroin. While medically prescribed fentanyl remains legal for the treatment of severe pain, the law now includes all synthetic variants often manufactured illicitly, particularly in China, that have contributed to the opioid epidemic and thousands of overdose deaths across the country.

For years, drug producers have exploited legal loopholes by slightly modifying fentanyl’s chemical structure to evade regulation. The new bill seeks to close those loopholes by automatically categorizing all similar analogues as highly restricted substances.

Several individuals who lost loved ones to fentanyl overdoses were present during the signing and shared emotional testimonies. Among them, Jackie Siegel—widow of Westgate Resorts founder David Siegel—spoke of the tragic deaths of her daughter and sister. “It has been a very difficult journey,” she said. “But it has turned me into a fighter committed to honoring my family’s legacy by saving lives.”