Trump Executive Order:
Accelerating Medical Treatments
for Serious Mental Illness
On April 18, 2026, President Donald Trump signed a landmark executive order directing the federal government to fast-track psychedelic medicine research and access — including a $50 million funding commitment, a Right to Try pathway for ibogaine, and a mandate to collaborate with the VA to address the veteran suicide crisis.
Read Full Order on WhiteHouse.govWhy This Order Matters
American adults with serious mental illness
Veteran suicides per year for over 20 years
Veteran suicide rate vs. non-veteran adults
For decades, the federal government classified psychedelic medicines as Schedule I — "no accepted medical use" — despite mounting evidence of their therapeutic potential. This executive order represents a fundamental policy reversal: the United States government now officially recognizes that psychedelic drugs, including ibogaine, "show potential in clinical studies to address serious mental illnesses." The order creates concrete mechanisms to accelerate research, expand access, and ultimately save lives.
Key Provisions
FDA Priority Vouchers
The FDA Commissioner shall provide Commissioner's National Priority Vouchers to psychedelic drugs that have received Breakthrough Therapy designation — accelerating their path through the approval process.
Real-World Impact
Drugs with Breakthrough Therapy designation (including psilocybin and MDMA) will receive expedited FDA review, potentially cutting years off the approval timeline.
Right to Try — Ibogaine Access
The FDA and DEA shall establish a pathway for eligible patients to access ibogaine compounds under the Right to Try Act, including Schedule I handling authorizations for treating physicians and researchers.
Real-World Impact
For the first time in US history, terminally or seriously ill patients can legally access ibogaine treatment in the United States without traveling abroad. Physicians can now legally administer ibogaine under this pathway.
$50 Million Federal Funding
The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall, through ARPA-H (Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health), allocate at least $50 million from existing funds to support state governments developing psychedelic medicine programs.
Real-World Impact
States like Oregon and Colorado that have already legalized therapeutic psilocybin will receive federal funding, technical assistance, and data-sharing support. This creates a model for other states to follow.
VA & Private Sector Collaboration
HHS and FDA shall collaborate with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the private sector to increase clinical trial participation, data sharing, and real-world evidence generation. HHS, FDA, and VA are directed to sign data-sharing memoranda.
Real-World Impact
Veterans — who have the highest rates of PTSD and suicide — will now have access to psychedelic medicine clinical trials through the VA system. This is the most direct response to the veteran suicide crisis in decades.
Rescheduling Directive
The Attorney General shall initiate and complete review of any Schedule I substance that has successfully completed Phase 3 clinical trials for a serious mental health disorder, so that rescheduling may proceed as quickly as practicable.
Real-World Impact
Once MDMA or psilocybin complete Phase 3 trials and receive FDA approval, the DEA is now directed to reschedule them immediately. This removes the political obstacle that has historically blocked rescheduling even after scientific approval.
The Study That Drove the Order
Stanford Medicine Study (2024): The Research That Changed Everything
Nolan Williams, MD et al. — Stanford University School of Medicine · Nature Medicine, January 2024
Participants: 30 special operations veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI)
"These are the most dramatic results I have ever seen in psychiatry. The magnitude of improvement is unlike anything we have seen with existing treatments."
— Dr. Nolan Williams, Stanford Medicine
Full Executive Order Text
ACCELERATING MEDICAL TREATMENTS FOR SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS
April 18, 2026 · Presidential Executive Order
Section 1. Purpose and Policy. Policymakers and the medical field have long struggled to address the burden of suicide and serious mental illness rates in America. Today, over 14 million American adults have a serious mental illness, defined as having a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder that substantially interferes with a person's life and ability to function, and about 8 million are on prescription medication for these conditions. Suicide rates tragically increased by 37 percent from 2000 to 2018. During my first term, we made historic progress in helping those struggling with some of the most insidious mental illnesses, and suicide rates decreased by 5 percent from 2018 to 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic and the Biden Administration's prolonged shutdown stunted this progress and suicide rates rebounded upwards again to their peak rate in 2022. Critically, veterans often suffer in greater measure from this tragedy. For over 20 years, there have been more than 6,000 veteran suicides per year, and the current veteran suicide rate is more than twice as much as the non-veteran adult population.
Individuals suffering from major depressive disorder and substance abuse disorder, among other serious mental illnesses, can relapse or not fully respond to standard medical and psychiatric therapies. Despite massive Federal investment into researching potential advancements in mental health care and treatment, our medical research system has yet to produce approved therapies that promote enduring improvements in the mental health condition of these most complex patients. Innovative methods are needed to find long-term solutions for these Americans beyond existing prescription medications.
Psychedelic drugs, including ibogaine compounds, show potential in clinical studies to address serious mental illnesses for patients whose conditions persist after completing standard therapy. Indeed, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Breakthrough Therapy designation to specific psychedelic drugs, and there are numerous products currently in the clinical trial pipeline for review of safety and efficacy. It is the policy of my Administration to accelerate innovative research models and appropriate drug approvals to increase access to psychedelic drugs that could save lives and reverse the crisis of serious mental illness in America.
Sec. 2. FDA Review Prioritization and Right to Try. (a) The Commissioner of Food and Drugs shall provide Commissioner's National Priority Vouchers to appropriate psychedelic drugs that have received a Breakthrough Therapy designation and are in accordance with the criteria of the National Priority Voucher Program.
(b) The FDA and Drug Enforcement Administration shall facilitate and establish a pathway for eligible patients to access psychedelic drugs, including ibogaine compounds, under the Right to Try Act (21 U.S.C. 360bbb-0a), including any necessary Schedule I handling authorizations for treating physicians and researchers, consistent with 21 U.S.C. 823, and any applicable waiver authority under the Controlled Substances Act.
Sec. 3. Department of Health and Human Services Funding for Federal-State Collaboration. The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall, through the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, allocate at least $50 million from existing funds to support and partner with State governments that have enacted or are developing programs to advance psychedelic drugs for serious mental illnesses, including through Federal funding, technical assistance, and data sharing as appropriate and consistent with applicable law.
Sec. 4. Department of Health and Human Services and FDA Collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Private Sector. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and FDA shall collaborate with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, with the private sector, to increase clinical trial participation, data sharing, and real-world evidence generation regarding psychedelic drugs, and shall prioritize drugs that have received a Breakthrough Therapy designation. The HHS, FDA, and VA are directed to sign data-sharing memoranda as appropriate to ensure that data from relevant clinical studies conducted by other executive departments and agencies is made available to FDA to facilitate the timely evaluation and approval of drugs that meet standards for approval.
Sec. 5. Timely Rescheduling. The Attorney General shall, in consultation with HHS, initiate and complete review of any product containing a Schedule I substance that has successfully completed Phase 3 clinical trials for a serious mental health disorder, so that rescheduling, if appropriate under 21 U.S.C. 811, may proceed as quickly as practicable for such specific products that are ultimately approved.
DONALD J. TRUMP · THE WHITE HOUSE · April 18, 2026
What Comes Next
FDA Implements Right to Try Pathway for Ibogaine
The FDA and DEA must establish the specific protocols, physician authorization procedures, and patient eligibility criteria for ibogaine access under Right to Try. Expected within 6–12 months.
ARPA-H Distributes $50M to State Programs
Oregon, Colorado, and other states with active psychedelic programs will receive federal funding and technical assistance to expand their programs.
VA Signs Data-Sharing Agreements
The VA, HHS, and FDA will formalize data-sharing agreements, enabling veteran clinical trial data to feed directly into FDA drug approval reviews.
Psilocybin & MDMA Rescheduling
Once these drugs complete Phase 3 trials and receive FDA approval, the Attorney General is now directed to initiate rescheduling immediately — removing the political bottleneck.
State-Level Expansion
With federal funding and legitimacy, more states are expected to follow Oregon and Colorado in legalizing therapeutic psychedelic use.
Access Treatment Today
You don't have to wait for federal implementation. Ibogaine is available now at vetted clinics in Mexico and other countries. Contact our team to get connected.