Trump declares fentanyl 'weapon of mass destruction,' signs executive order

Fentanyl labelled a weapon of mass

President Donald Trump on Monday signed an Executive Order officially designating illicit fentanyl and its core precursor chemicals as “Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD),” citing the deadly impact of the opioid on the United States.

“Illicit fentanyl is closer to a chemical weapon than a narcotic. Two milligrams, an almost undetectable trace amount… constitutes a lethal dose. Hundreds of thousands of Americans have died from fentanyl overdoses,” the order states.

"With this historic executive order I will sign today, we're formally classifying fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction, which is what it is," Trump said during an event at the White House.

Trump emphasised the national security threat posed by drug cartels, noting, “The manufacture and distribution of fentanyl, primarily performed by organized criminal networks, threatens our national security and fuels lawlessness in our hemisphere and at our borders.” The order highlighted the role of cartels and Foreign Terrorist Organizations in funding assassinations, insurgencies, and other operations that endanger U.S. citizens.

The Executive Order mandates immediate federal action to combat the crisis. “The Attorney General shall immediately pursue investigations and prosecutions into fentanyl trafficking, including through criminal charges, sentencing enhancements, and sentencing variances,” it directs. The Secretary of State and Treasury are tasked with targeting the assets and financial networks supporting the manufacture and sale of illicit fentanyl.

.@POTUS announces he is signing an Executive Order today to formally classify fentanyl as a Weapon of Mass Destruction. pic.twitter.com/grshF47tlV

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) December 15, 2025

Further, the order directs the Secretary of War, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, to update chemical incident response directives to include the fentanyl threat and provide enhanced resources to the Department of Justice where necessary. The Secretary of Homeland Security is instructed to “identify threat networks related to fentanyl smuggling using WMD- and nonproliferation-related threat intelligence.”

“By designating illicit fentanyl as a WMD, President Trump is ensuring the full weight of the Federal government is focused, coordinated, and mobilized to confront fentanyl as the deadly chemical weapon it is,” the White House fact sheet said.

Trump’s declaration builds on his previous efforts to combat the crisis, including the HALT Fentanyl Act, designating fentanyl as a Schedule I drug, and classifying major cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists.

“Immediately upon returning to office, I declared a National Emergency at the southern border that allowed the United States to gain operational control of the border, combat the cartels, and secure our Nation,” the fact sheet adds. Trump vowed to dismantle the cartels and protect American families from the “poisonous fentanyl that is killing our people.”

The order, effective immediately, marks a new phase in the administration’s fight against the opioid crisis, linking drug trafficking with national security and counter-terrorism efforts.