WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed the HALT Fentanyl Act into law Wednesday during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, with several grieving parents who lost children to fentanyl poisoning standing in attendance.
The bipartisan legislation, formally titled the Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act, permanently classifies fentanyl-related substances (FRS) as Schedule I drugs under the Controlled Substances Act—the highest classification reserved for substances with no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. The law closes a loophole that allowed traffickers to alter fentanyl’s chemical structure to evade prosecution.
The bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a 321-104 vote last month and had already cleared the Senate. It now codifies a temporary measure first enacted in 2018, which was set to expire in March 2025.
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid up to 50 times more potent than heroin, is now the leading cause of overdose deaths in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, synthetic opioids like fentanyl were involved in more than 75% of opioid-related deaths in 2021. In 2023 alone, more than 100,000 Americans died of drug overdoses, with fentanyl responsible for nearly 70% of those deaths.
Among those attending the bill signing was Bridgette Norring, a Minnesota mother who lost her 19-year-old son Devin to fentanyl poisoning. She has become a national advocate for stronger legislation and testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this year, urging lawmakers to act.
“Today marks another month that my son, Devin Joseph Norring, was taken from this earthly world—well before he ever had a chance to really start his life,” Norring said during the hearing. She also shared her story on the Grieving Out Loud podcast, from Emily’s Hope.
Norring was joined at the White House by other parents who have lost children to fentanyl. Their presence at the signing served as a powerful reminder of the human toll behind the statistics.
While the Biden administration backed the HALT Fentanyl Act, it had stalled during a previous session in the Democratic-controlled Senate. Its final passage reflects growing bipartisan consensus on addressing the fentanyl crisis.
Law enforcement agencies and 25 attorneys general endorsed the legislation, citing the need for stronger legal tools to combat fentanyl analog trafficking. In a letter to Senate leadership, state attorneys general described the death toll as a “cataclysmic surge” and called for urgent congressional action.
Despite wide support, the bill has also drawn criticism. More than 150 public health and civil rights organizations opposed the measure, warning it could reinforce punitive drug policies that disproportionately impact marginalized communities and stifle research on fentanyl analogs. They argue the focus should shift toward expanded treatment, prevention, and harm reduction.
The law does not impact pharmaceutical fentanyl, which remains a Schedule II drug with approved medical uses. Nor does it provide new funding for public health or law enforcement efforts.
