Trump Signs Executive Order to Fast-Track Psychedelic Drug Treatments for Mental Illness
President Trump signed an executive order on April 18, 2026, directing the FDA to prioritize psychedelic drug treatments for serious mental illness, including PTSD and treatment-resistant depression. The order allocates at least $50 million through ARPA-H for psychedelic research and creates a pathway for eligible patients to access investigational drugs under the Right to Try Act.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on April 18, 2026, directing federal agencies to accelerate access to psychedelic drug treatments for serious mental illness, with a particular focus on military veterans.
The order directs the FDA commissioner to issue national priority vouchers for psychedelic drugs that have received "Breakthrough Therapy" designations for serious mental illnesses, aiming to prevent delays in the review process. The FDA and the Drug Enforcement Agency are tasked with establishing a pathway for eligible patients to access investigational psychedelic drugs, including ibogaine compounds, under the Right to Try Act.
The Secretary of Health and Human Services is required to allocate at least $50 million through the Advanced Research Projects for Health program, matching state government investments in psychedelic research. HHS and the FDA are also directed to collaborate with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the private sector to increase clinical trial participation.
The order cited suicide rates among military veterans, which are more than twice as high as the non-veteran adult population, as a key driver of the policy. The administration noted that suicide rates decreased during Trump's first term but rebounded to their peak in 2022.
Following the order, the FDA announced it would prioritize development and review of serotonin-2A agonists for conditions including treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and substance use disorders. The agency said it would issue national priority vouchers for studies involving psilocybin and methylone for alcohol use disorder.
World-leading institutions including Stanford, Harvard, and Johns Hopkins are actively studying psychedelic therapies. The FDA has already granted "Breakthrough Therapy" designation to some psychedelic drugs showing promising preliminary clinical evidence. In 2025, Texas launched a research consortium to accelerate ibogaine clinical trials.
