Trump Signs Order Expediting Drugs for Mental Health Treatment

President Donald J. Trump signed a sweeping executive order on Saturday aimed at accelerating cutting-edge medical treatments—particularly psychedelic-based therapies—for Americans in need, with a strong focus on helping U.S. veterans.

The order directs the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to fast-track its review of certain psychedelic substances already designated as “breakthrough therapy” drugs, clearing the way for potentially life-changing treatments to reach patients more quickly.

“The executive order I’m signing, we’re actually signing the executive order today, is really a moment,” Trump said. “These treatments are currently in the advanced stages of clinical trials to ensure that they’re both safe and effective for the American patients.”

Framing the move as a major reform effort, the president emphasized that the initiative is designed to remove bureaucratic obstacles that have long slowed innovation in the medical field.

“This order will clear away unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles, improve data sharing among the FDA and the Department of Veterans Affairs, and facilitate fast rescheduling of any psychedelic drugs that become FDA approved,” Trump said.

Highlighting the urgency of the issue, Trump pointed to the alarming rate of veteran suicides and the need for new solutions to address severe mental health conditions such as depression and traumatic brain injuries.

“In many cases, these experimental treatments have shown life-changing potential for those suffering from severe mental illness and depression, including our cherished veterans,” he added.

The president cited promising research, including a 2024 study from Stanford University involving special operations veterans treated with ibogaine.

“30 special operation veterans with traumatic brain injuries underwent — it’s called ibogaine treatment — ibogaine, remember the name,” Trump said, noting that participants “experienced an 80 to 90% reduction in symptoms of depression and anxiety within one month.”

In tandem with state-level efforts—such as a $50 million investment from Texas—Trump announced that the federal government will match that commitment with its own $50 million toward further research.

“We’re also opening a pathway for ibogaine to be administered to desperately ill patients under the right to try law,” he said.

“Today’s order will ensure that people suffering from debilitating symptoms might finally have a chance to reclaim their lives and lead a happier life, just lead a happier life,” Trump concluded.

The executive order follows another major directive issued by President Trump just weeks earlier, centered on strengthening election integrity across the country.

Titled “Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections,” the order outlines new federal-state coordination measures designed to verify voter eligibility and tighten oversight of mail-in voting systems.

At its core, the policy directs the Department of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Social Security Administration, to compile updated lists of verified U.S. citizens using federal databases. These “State Citizenship Lists” would then be shared with state election officials to assist in maintaining accurate voter rolls—while leaving final registration authority to the states.

The order also tasks the Department of Justice with prioritizing investigations into election law violations, including cases involving ballots sent to ineligible individuals.

In a significant move impacting mail-in voting, the directive instructs the United States Postal Service to establish standardized national procedures for handling election mail. Within 60 days, the Postmaster General must initiate rulemaking that would require all mail-in ballots to use specially marked envelopes equipped with unique tracking barcodes and compatible with automated processing systems.

Supporters argue the reforms will bolster transparency, strengthen voter confidence, and ensure that only eligible ballots are counted—while critics are expected to challenge the measures in court, setting up yet another high-stakes legal and political battle over election law.