Trending Now - Trump Initiates Fast-track Review for Psychedelic Therapies

WHO:

Fortune - Marcus Luttrell, a former Navy SEAL, stated to Trump, "You’re going to save a lot of lives through it. It absolutely changed my life for the better."

ABC News - President Trump was joined by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary, and podcaster Joe Rogan at the White House for the announcement.

NBC News - President Trump joked about asking for ibogaine during the executive order signing.

NY Post - Trump signed an executive order.

CBS News Politics - Sources indicated that the executive order will facilitate research into ibogaine.

Fox News - President Donald Trump signed the executive order.

The Washington Post - Three anonymous sources discussed the administration’s plans.

WHAT:

Fortune - The Food and Drug Administration will issue national priority vouchers for three psychedelics, which can cut review times from several months to a period of weeks.

Fortune - The FDA is taking steps to clear the way for the first-ever human trials of ibogaine in the U.S.

Fortune - Ibogaine is known to cause irregular heart rhythms and has been linked to more than 30 deaths in the medical literature.

Fortune - The executive order directs the Department of Health and Human Services to provide at least $50 million to states developing programs for psychedelic drugs for serious mental illness.

Fortune - The executive order is described as a federal-state partnership to provide funding, technical assistance, and data sharing for psychedelic research programs.

Fortune - The Food and Drug Administration will issue national priority vouchers for three psychedelics, allowing for quicker approval processes, marking the first time the FDA has offered fast-tracking to any psychedelics.

Fortune - Trump stated, "Today’s order will ensure that people suffering from debilitating symptoms might finally have a chance to reclaim their lives and lead a happier life."

Fortune - Trump mentioned that the order would help "dramatically accelerate" access to potential treatments.

Fortune - The executive order calls on the Department of Health and Human Services to direct at least $50 million to states that have enacted or are developing programs to advance psychedelic drugs for serious mental illness.

Fortune - Ibogaine is known to cause irregular heart rhythms and has been linked to more than 30 deaths in the medical literature.

Fortune - The FDA is also taking steps to clear the way for the first-ever human trials of ibogaine in the U.S.

Fortune - Clinics that use ibogaine typically monitor patients’ heart readings and have emergency medical equipment on hand.

Fortune - A recent study by Stanford University found that veterans treated with ibogaine showed improvements in symptoms of traumatic brain injury, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety.

Fortune - Trump’s executive order will direct at least $50 million to states that have enacted or are developing programs to advance psychedelic drugs for serious mental illness.

Fortune - The FDA will issue national priority vouchers for three psychedelics, allowing for quicker approval processes.

ABC News - Trump stated that the executive order's goal was to help veterans with severe mental health issues and provide them with new options for treatment.

ABC News - Trump indicated that Rogan lobbied him privately on the issue, saying, "I got a call from a number of people, including the great Joe Rogan, and he said, we have to do something about this. And I looked into it."

NBC News - The executive order signed by Trump will speed up reviews of certain psychedelic drugs, including ibogaine, which has been embraced by combat veterans and conservative lawmakers despite serious safety risks.

ABC News - Ibogaine is classified under the federal government's most restrictive category of banned substances.

Newsweek - Trump announced a drug policy reform described as "historic" aimed at easing restrictions on psychedelics for veterans' mental health treatment.

NY Post - The executive order aims to expedite research into the psychedelic drug ibogaine for treating veterans.

CBS News Politics - The order will open the door for more research into ibogaine.

Fox News - The executive order directs the FDA to accelerate the review of psychedelics designated as breakthrough therapy drugs.

The Washington Post - Trump plans to boost research into psychedelics and potentially make them available in controlled therapeutic environments.

WHERE:

Fox News - The FDA is the agency involved in the review process.

WHEN:

The Washington Post - Trump is planning to sign the executive order on Saturday, April 23rd, 2026.

WHY:

Fortune - Veteran organizations and psychedelic advocates contend that ibogaine has great promise for hard-to-treat conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder and opioid addiction.

ABC News - Trump emphasized that "in many cases, these experimental treatments have shown life changing potential for those suffering from severe mental illness and depression, including our cherished veterans, our veterans are having a tremendous hard time."

NY Post - The initiative is aimed at treating veterans with PTSD.

CBS News Politics - The executive order is intended to facilitate research into a drug used abroad for PTSD treatment.

HOW:

Fortune - The executive order provides for expedited rescheduling for any psychedelics that later receive approval from the FDA for treatment.

Fortune - The executive order is described as a federal-state partnership to provide funding, technical assistance, and data sharing for psychedelic research programs.

Fortune - The order is described as a federal-state partnership to provide funding, technical assistance, and data sharing for psychedelic research programs.

ABC News - The executive order provides for expedited rescheduling for any psychedelics that later receive approval from the FDA for treatment.

Fox News - The executive order will accelerate the FDA's review process for certain psychedelics.

ABC News - The executive order provides for expedited rescheduling for any psychedelics that later receive approval from the FDA for treatment.

Fox News - The executive order will accelerate the FDA's review process for certain psychedelics.

(UPDATED April 19, 2026 15:06 UTC)

The Food and Drug Administration is set to issue national priority vouchers for three psychedelics, significantly reducing review times for these substances from months to just weeks. In a related move, the FDA is preparing for the first-ever human trials of ibogaine in the U.S., despite its known risks, including irregular heart rhythms and a troubling history linked to over 30 deaths. An executive order has also been announced, directing the Department of Health and Human Services to allocate at least $50 million to states for developing programs aimed at using psychedelic drugs to treat serious mental illnesses, while establishing a federal-state partnership to support research in this area.

(UPDATED April 19, 2026 13:15 UTC)

The Food and Drug Administration is set to issue national priority vouchers for three psychedelics, marking a historic move to fast-track their approval processes. President Trump emphasized that this order aims to help those suffering from debilitating symptoms reclaim their lives and access potential treatments more quickly, while also directing at least $50 million to states advancing psychedelic drug programs for serious mental illnesses. Notably, the FDA is paving the way for the first-ever human trials of ibogaine in the U.S., which has shown promise in improving symptoms of traumatic brain injury in veterans, despite its known risks.

(UPDATED April 19, 2026 09:10 UTC)

President Trump has announced an executive order that will allocate at least $50 million to states developing programs focused on psychedelic drugs for serious mental illnesses. This initiative includes the FDA issuing national priority vouchers for three psychedelics, which will expedite their approval processes. Veteran organizations and advocates believe that substances like ibogaine could be crucial in treating challenging conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder and opioid addiction, with former Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell expressing that this effort could save many lives.

(UPDATED April 18, 2026 23:04 UTC)

President Trump is set to sign an executive order April 23rd, aimed at treating veterans suffering from PTSD. He highlighted that many experimental treatments have shown life-changing potential for those dealing with severe mental illness and depression, particularly among veterans who are facing significant challenges. The executive order will expedite the rescheduling of any psychedelics that receive FDA approval for treatment and will accelerate the FDA's review process for these substances.

(UPDATED April 18, 2026 21:11 UTC)

President Trump announced an executive order aimed at assisting veterans with severe mental health issues during an event at the White House, where he was joined by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and podcaster Joe Rogan, among others. Trump highlighted that the order seeks to provide new treatment options, noting that Joe Rogan had urged him to take action on this important issue, stating that experimental treatments have shown life-changing potential for those suffering from severe mental illness. The executive order also includes provisions for expedited rescheduling of any psychedelics that receive FDA approval for treatment.

(UPDATED April 18, 2026 19:16 UTC)

President Trump has signed an executive order aimed at speeding up reviews of certain psychedelic drugs, including ibogaine, which has gained support from combat veterans and conservative lawmakers despite its serious safety risks. Ibogaine is currently classified under the federal government's most restrictive category of banned substances. This move could potentially change the landscape for how these substances are evaluated and utilized in the future.

(UPDATED April 18, 2026 17:09 UTC)

President Trump announced a historic drug policy reform aimed at easing restrictions on psychedelics for veterans' mental health treatment. During the executive order signing, he joked about asking for ibogaine, highlighting the lighter side of this significant initiative. The executive order is set to be officially signed April 23rd.

(UPDATED April 18, 2026 15:10 UTC)

President Trump signed an executive order that aims to expedite research into the psychedelic drug ibogaine, specifically for treating veterans with PTSD. The order directs the FDA to accelerate its review of psychedelics designated as breakthrough therapy drugs, opening the door for more research in controlled therapeutic environments. This initiative is part of Trump's broader plan to enhance treatment options for veterans and is set to take effect April 23rd.