House Passes HALT Fentanyl Act Amid Trump’s Drug Trafficking Crackdown

Legislation to permanently classify fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I controlled substances passed the House with bipartisan support on Feb. 6. Ninety-eight Democrats joined with all but one Republican to pass the HALT Fentanyl Act in a 312–108 vote. Fentanyl-related substances were first temporarily classified as Schedule I narcotics—the same category as LSD, heroin, and ecstasy—in 2018 under the first Trump administration. Since then, lawmakers have extended the order several times but failed to make it permanent. It is due to expire on March 31. The latest move to finalize the scheduling order comes amid the Trump administration’s crackdown on cross-border drug trafficking, which has facilitated the spread of illicit fentanyl throughout the country....