President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Saturday directing the FDA to accelerate its review of certain psychedelic drugs that have already been classified as “breakthrough therapy” treatments. The move is intended to speed up access to emerging mental health therapies, particularly for military veterans suffering from PTSD, depression, and traumatic brain injuries.
Trump described the order as a “moment” for medical innovation, saying it would remove bureaucratic delays that have slowed down promising treatments. According to him, many psychedelic therapies are already in advanced clinical trials and have shown significant potential to improve patient outcomes when used under medical supervision.
A key focus of the order is improving coordination between the FDA and the Department of Veterans Affairs, allowing faster data sharing and more efficient evaluation of treatments. It also calls for quicker rescheduling of psychedelics once they are approved for medical use, potentially moving them out of restrictive classifications that currently limit research and access.
The president said “in 2024, a study from Stanford University, 30 special operation veterans with traumatic brain injuries underwent — it’s called ibogaine treatment — ibogaine, remember the name,” noting that they “experienced an 80 to 90% reduction in symptoms of depression and anxiety within one month.”
The president referenced recent studies, including research from Stanford University involving veterans treated with ibogaine, which reportedly showed major reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms. He also pointed to state-level investments, such as Texas committing $50 million to ibogaine research, alongside a similar federal investment announced as part of the initiative.
The order additionally opens pathways for certain psychedelic treatments to be administered under “Right to Try” laws for patients with severe or terminal conditions who have exhausted other options.
This announcement comes amid broader federal policy actions, including a separate executive order signed two weeks earlier aimed at tightening election integrity measures. That directive involved federal-state coordination on voter verification, expanded oversight of mail-in ballots, and new USPS standards for ballot tracking and processing.
Together, these actions reflect a wider effort by the administration to reshape regulatory systems in both healthcare and election administration, with supporters praising efficiency and critics raising concerns about federal overreach.