WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed an executive order on April 18, 2026, directing federal agencies to accelerate research into psychedelic drugs as potential treatments for serious mental illnesses, including post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.
The order instructs the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prioritize review of psychedelic compounds that have received Breakthrough Therapy designation and requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to allocate $50 million through the Advanced Research Projects for Health (ARPA-H) program to match state government investments in psychedelic research. The order also directs the FDA and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to establish a pathway for eligible patients to access investigational psychedelic drugs under the federal Right to Try Act.
“In many cases, these experimental treatments have shown life-changing potential for those suffering from severe mental illness and depression, including our cherished veterans,” Trump said during the signing ceremony in the Oval Office.
Ibogaine, a psychedelic compound derived from the root bark of a Central African shrub, is the only drug mentioned by name in the order. The substance remains classified as a Schedule I controlled substance, indicating no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Safety concerns have included risks of abnormal heart rhythms.
Representative Lou Correa (D-Calif.), co-founder of the Congressional Psychedelics Advancing Therapies (PATH) Caucus, said the order would benefit veterans. “President Trump and I agree on this one,” Correa said in a statement. “First, we need to declassify from schedule one so that more medical studies are performed”.
Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions (VETS), a nonprofit that has supported approximately 1,300 veterans in accessing psychedelic-assisted therapies, attended the signing ceremony. “This is a meaningful and long-overdue step,” said Amber Capone, co-founder and CEO of VETS.
The executive order does not immediately reschedule or legalize any psychedelic substances. Implementation will require action by the FDA, DEA, HHS, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
