Trump Orders Fast-Track FDA Reviews for Psychedelics With $50M Funding
President Donald Trump has signed a new executive order to accelerate research into psychedelic drugs, signaling a major shift in U.S. drug policy with immediate implications for mental health treatment.
The move is drawing both support and skepticism as federal agencies are pushed to fast-track substances long classified as illegal, raising questions about safety, science, and speed.
According to Reuters and CBS News, the April 18 order directs the Food and Drug Administration to speed up clinical trials and approvals for drugs including ibogaine, psilocybin, LSD, and MDMA, while committing $50 million in federal research funding.
The policy stops short of immediate legalization, but officials say rescheduling could follow if trials prove successful, even as some experts warn the evidence base remains limited and past FDA reviews have flagged safety concerns.
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“This is an unmet public health need and there are potentially promising treatments,” FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said.
The decision follows Trump’s earlier December 2025 order to reclassify marijuana, marking a broader federal shift toward loosening restrictions on controlled substances tied to medical use.
Supporters, including Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and some bipartisan lawmakers, argue the policy could expand treatment options for veterans and patients with severe mental illness who have not responded to existing therapies.
But unresolved questions remain about clinical reliability, long-term safety, and how quickly federal regulators can move without compromising standards.
Early signals from financial markets suggest immediate impact, with psychedelic drug companies seeing sharp stock gains after the announcement.
Federal agencies are now expected to begin accelerated reviews, with potential regulatory decisions emerging as early as this summer.
For now, the policy opens the door but not the outcome.
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