The Republican-led HALT Fentanyl Act, aimed at curbing the spread of fentanyl and similar substances, passed the House on Thursday with strong bipartisan backing in a 321-104 vote.
Originally reintroduced in February by Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., the bill would permanently classify fentanyl and its analogs as Schedule I drugs under the Controlled Substances Act.
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This move solidifies the Drug Enforcement Administration’s 2018 actions under President Donald Trump. Until now, fentanyl has remained a Schedule II drug, which acknowledges its medical use for severe pain but flags its high potential for abuse. By reclassifying it under Schedule I—the same category as heroin and LSD—the law will declare it as having no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.
Although fentanyl is banned across the U.S., traffickers often exploit a legal loophole by tweaking the drug’s chemical structure. These modified versions remain dangerously potent but technically escape fentanyl classification. Once President Donald Trump signs the HALT Fentanyl Act into law, that loophole will close.
“Proud to once again support this vital legislation!”
— Rep. Stephanie Bice, R-Okla., via X
“We must close legal loopholes which currently allow cartels and criminals to distribute dangerous variants of this lethal drug.”
The act also proposes harsher penalties for those trafficking or distributing fentanyl or its chemical equivalents.
However, critics—including 103 Democrats and one Republican—argue the legislation may fuel racial disparities in the justice system and impede the development of new treatments for fentanyl overdoses. They emphasize the need to treat the fentanyl crisis as a public health emergency, not just a criminal issue.
“A dangerous & ineffective approach to a public health crisis, doubling down on mandatory minimum prison sentences and ignoring treatment and recovery,”
— Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-Conn., via X
