Trump Team Declares Fentanyl a Top Threat to U.S.

Fentanyl, a top threat

A hearing for the Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community was held on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard of the Trump Administration delivered the opening testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee. She reported that fentanyl and drug cartels involved in its distribution are now ranked as a top threat to the security of the United States.

This is the first time that foreign drug distribution has been listed as a top threat to U.S. security, with a focus on Mexico-based transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), or cartels, who use chemicals produced in China and India to manufacture fentanyl. ^[1]

During the hearing, it was reported by CIA Director John Ratcliffe that China is able to take efforts to prevent the exportation of fentanyl precursor chemicals. However, he stated that over 600 Chinese companies continue to produce these chemicals in a $1.5 trillion industry. ^[2]

Trump has claimed that, despite discussions with China, there have not been enough actions taken by officials to reduce and stop the flow of fentanyl and related chemicals into the U.S. ^[3][4]

Responses and actions

During the new term starting this year, the Trump Administration has the following responses and suggestions to manage this threat:

• Recognizing that drug cartels have been declared terrorist organizations ^[6]
• Suggesting that drug dealers and cartels should be sentenced with the death penalty ^[2]
• Suggesting that military operations should be launched to target Mexico-based TCOs, potentially bombing drug labs in the country ^[7]
• Considering listing fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction, thereby suggesting that China is allowing or sponsoring terrorism ^[2]
• Increasing tariffs on items from China by 10% and up to 25% on items from Mexico and Canada ^[4][5]

What is the extent of the fentanyl crisis?

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 100 times more potent than morphine. Its use has increased dramatically over the last decade, and it has been associated with increasing numbers of overdose deaths. ^[8]

Reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate a rise in fentanyl-related deaths from 1 death per 100,000 people in 2013 to 22.7 deaths per 100,000 people in 2022, equaling 73,838 deaths. ^[9][10]

Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are the primary cause of U.S. overdose deaths. Due to its potency, a kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to cause 500,000 deaths. ^[8]

Illicit fentanyl is made using precursor chemicals from China, manufactured in foreign labs, and distributed to the U.S., mostly by organizations in Mexico or across the border from Canada. It is then sold as fentanyl powder or pills, mixed with other illicit substances (such as heroin) to increase profits, or pressed into pills to imitate prescription opioids, such as oxycodone. ^[8][11]

How this differs from Biden's approach to the fentanyl crisis

Under the Biden-Harris Administration, White House press announcements say that fentanyl deaths have decreased. The Administration worked to build cooperative relationships with China and Mexico to reduce and disrupt the fentanyl supply. ^[11]

Evidence indicates that trafficking of fentanyl and precursor chemicals reduced during this time. For example, the White House reported stopping more illicit fentanyl from entering the country within two years than the previous five years combined, with increased and improved detection technology at U.S. borders.

Additionally, this Administration focused on providing more harm reduction strategies within communities, such as increased naloxone access and over $82 billion invested in treatments. ^[12] Overdose deaths involving fentanyl decreased from over 76,000 in October 2023 to just over 51,000 in October 2024, a 31.4% decrease. ^[13]

Related: Fentanyl Use Declined in 2024, But Polysubstance Use on the Rise

However, evidence suggests that by having open borders, which resulted in increased immigration from Mexico, South America, and other countries during the Biden-Harris administration, smuggled fentanyl became more involved in dangerous polysubstance use, drug-related poisoning, overdoses, and violent crimes in the US. ^[13] Because drug trafficking and gang-related activities through cartels are associated with many dangerous illegal activities, tracking them is difficult.

Criticisms and concerns

Trump has reportedly begun discussing military action, such as bombing drug labs in Mexico and targeting drug organizations. Responses to this have varied, but some have criticized this approach, as the manufacturing and distribution of drugs are complex operations that won’t simply cease to exist with the bombing of a few labs. ^[2]

Additionally, this military approach, along with the suggestion to declare fentanyl a weapon of mass destruction and increase tariffs, is thought to harm American relationships with China and Mexico and cooperative efforts to fight drug organizations. ^[3]

The Chinese Embassy has released statements that indicate clear disapproval of these actions, stating that “additional tariffs are not constructive and bound to affect and harm the counternarcotics cooperation between the two sides” and that they “firmly oppose the U.S. pressuring, threatening and blackmailing China under the pretext of the fentanyl issue”.

Despite this, many of Trump’s Administration feel that the prior approach to tackling the opioid and fentanyl crisis was not aggressive enough and that there must be a greater pressure on China and Mexico to reduce and prevent drug smuggling into the U.S. ^[4]