President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to accelerate the use of psychedelic drugs as potential treatments for serious mental illnesses. The order instructs the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prioritize the approval of psychedelic drugs that have received breakthrough therapy designations for these conditions.
This initiative aims to ensure that individuals with serious mental illnesses, including veterans, can access effective treatments. Tragically, veterans have a suicide rate that is twice that of non-veterans, with over 6,000 veteran suicides occurring annually for more than 20 years.
The Order directs the FDA and the Drug Enforcement Agency to create a pathway for eligible patients to access investigational psychedelic drugs, including ibogaine compounds, which are currently under FDA review and have met basic safety requirements outlined in President Trump’s landmark Right to Try Act.
Additionally, the Order requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to allocate $50 million through the Advanced Research Projects for Health program. This funding is intended to match investments made by state governments to further research into psychedelic therapies for populations suffering from serious mental illnesses.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the FDA will collaborate with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the private sector to enhance participation in clinical trials and to generate evidence regarding experimental psychedelic therapies.
Furthermore, the Order instructs the Attorney General to review these drugs after they successfully complete Phase 3 clinical trials, so they can be rescheduled if deemed appropriate:
.@POTUS announces "historic reforms to dramatically accelerate access to new medical research and treatments based on psychedelic drugs."
"Since 9/11, we've lost over 21x more veteran lives to suicide than on the battlefield… and today, we're bringing them new hope." pic.twitter.com/ekZNBxtIT5
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 18, 2026
Former Navy SEALs Robert O'Neill (@mchooyah) and Marcus Capone tell @POTUS about the power of psychedelic treatments, and what this day means to them:
"It saved my life, and then it saved my wife."
"We had prayed for this day to come 10 years ago when we started the charity." https://t.co/Yw1NEAvmvz pic.twitter.com/CPN5Ynupad
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 18, 2026
Thank you, @joerogan, for helping bring national attention to these potentially life-saving treatments for veterans and others living with mental illness, and for pushing this conversation into the mainstream. pic.twitter.com/GVIF6EEESQ
— Secretary Kennedy (@SecKennedy) April 18, 2026
“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.”
The president said the executive order would implement “historic reforms to dramatically accelerate access to new medical research and treatments based on psychedelic drugs.” Citing the elevated veteran suicide rate, the president added: “In many cases, these experimental treatments have shown life-changing potential for those suffering from severe mental illness and depression, including our cherished veterans.”
“And the nice part is we’re actually doing this early, but it has been going on. Research has been going on for quite some time. But, you know, usually with things like this, nothing ever happens, no matter how the research ends up, but we’re changing that. 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 continued.
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.”
We have a mental health crisis in our country, but the vast majority of it is on the left. Wonder if we could get the GOP majority to mandate that ibogaine be taken by anyone identifying as or voting for Democrats.
? WOW! Joe Rogan reveals President Trump IMMEDIATELY offered him FDA approval for a psychedelic treatment in a text chain
Because the data was SO CONVINCING and STUNNING
"I wanna tell everybody how this happened. I send President Trump some information."
"With one dose of… pic.twitter.com/dnqYVf96hN
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) April 18, 2026
Just amazing.
