WASHINGTON — The Trump administration’s new Homeland Security secretary is facing criticism after financial disclosures revealed an investment of up to $1 million in a company that sells kratom, a controversial substance widely available in convenience stores and vape shops.
Kratom is often marketed as a natural dietary supplement. Still, the Drug Enforcement Administration warns it can be addictive and may produce stimulant effects at low doses and sedative or even psychotic effects at higher doses.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, kratom was detected in more than 5,200 overdose deaths nationwide between 2020 and 2024.
A report by The New York Times found that Secretary Markwayne Mullin disclosed an investment in Botanic Tonics, a company that could benefit from policy changes he has supported. The disclosure did not indicate when the investment was acquired, and there is no record that Mullin has divested.
Mullin, a former Republican senator from Oklahoma, also played a role in a broader influence campaign by the kratom industry, according to the Times. The effort included outreach to senior Trump administration officials, including Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Vice President JD Vance.
While still in the Senate, Mullin appeared at a Food and Drug Administration news conference in July, endorsing proposed restrictions on synthetic supplements that compete with kratom products. The Times reports that he cited a personal family history of addiction, though health experts note kratom itself carries addiction risks.
The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to questions about the investment. In a statement to the Times, the agency said Mullin “follows all ethics and conflict of interest standards and has not lobbied for any individual or company.”
Ethics watchdogs raised concerns about the potential conflict.
“This looks like a textbook conflict of interest, where it is impossible to know if Mullin is advocating for policies that are best for the public or if he is prioritizing his own bottom line at the expense of public health and safety,” said Donald Sherman of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.
The Times investigation, based on campaign finance records, lobbying disclosures and interviews, outlined a series of actions tied to kratom industry influence. These included political donations, regulatory changes and the dismissal of a federal lawsuit against Botanic Tonics, which had been accused of selling products not proven safe.
White House spokesman Kush Desai said administration policy decisions are based on science.
“The only guiding factor behind the Trump administration’s health care policymaking is gold standard science,” Desai told The Times.
The controversy comes amid broader scrutiny of federal oversight of addictive substances. Earlier this month, The Wall Street Journal reported that the FDA commissioner resigned after the agency approved certain fruit-flavored e-cigarette products, marking a shift from its previous policy of limiting approvals to tobacco- and menthol-flavored options.
The former commissioner, Marty Makary, had faced pressure from the White House to accelerate approvals, according to the Journal.
