Trump border czar calls for ‘weapon of mass destruction’ debate on fentanyl crisis
US officials should consider classifying fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction (WMD), according to President Donald Trump’s border czar.
Speaking at a defense forum organized by publisher Axios, Tom Homan stressed that the US death toll, estimated at 73,000 annually from fentanyl alone, is a grave issue that should “at least be discussed.”
He urged officials to prepare their recommendations and submit them to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for further consideration.
The fentanyl crisis has led Trump to impose tariffs on dozens of countries, accusing trade partners of being part of the supply chain fueling the epidemic. The US administration’s efforts have also included strengthening border controls with Mexico and Canada and strikes on alleged drug vessels off the coast of Venezuela.
The Trump administration describes the steps as part of a coordinated effort to disrupt smuggling routes and dismantle production networks tied to the opioid crisis. Economists, however, warn that broad tariff measures could heighten tensions with key trade partners and slow global commerce.
The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) confiscated over 380 million lethal doses of fentanyl in 2024. Updated figures through September show over 262 million doses seized so far this year. However, preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that drug overdose deaths fell 26.9% in 2024 to the lowest annual level since 2019, with an estimated 80,000 deaths compared to 110,037 in 2023.
Since 2019, the DHS has considered designating fentanyl as a WMD under specific conditions. Several legislative efforts to reclassify the drug have been introduced but none passed. A bill introduced in Congress by Representative Lauren Boebert earlier this year would require the department to formally classify fentanyl as a WMD.
