President Trump’s latest move is a step forward in ending the fentanyl epidemic. On Wednesday, Trump signed the HALT Fentanyl Act and officially classified all fentanyl substances as Schedule 1 drugs. Previously, fentanyl was classified as a Schedule 2 drug. WMUR had these details to report: The HALT Fentanyl Act classifies all fentanyl-related substances, including synthetic copycats, as Schedule I drugs under the Controlled Substances Act, placing them on the Drug Enforcement Administration’s list of the most dangerous substances. “We will not rest until we have ended the drug overdose epidemic,” Trump said. The bill makes permanent a 2018 emergency rule that temporarily classified synthetic opioids and their knockoffs as Schedule I drugs. New Hampshire’s entire delegation supported the legislation, including Sen. Jeanne Shaheen. “I was proud to help introduce this bipartisan legislation in the Senate, and I’m glad the president has signed it into law so that we can stop the flow of fentanyl into our communities, hold traffickers accountable and save lives,” Shaheen said. Chris Stawasz with American Medical Response said the legislation could help save lives. “I like to say it’s one piece of the three-legged stool. You know prevention, treatment and recovery,” he said. Stawasz noted that while the number of overdoses in New Hampshire is down, the lethality of fentanyl remains extremely high. Wtahc the moment Trump signed the bill into law here: NOW – Trump signs “Halt Fentanyl Act,” reclassifying fentanyl as a Schedule I drug. pic.twitter.com/MztaylSf0h — Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) July 16, 2025 More videos of the big moment: PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP SIGNS THE HALT FENTANYL ACT INTO LAW! “We renew our vow to liberate America from this horrible plague, and we’ll be getting the drug dealers, pushers, and peddlers off our streets, AND WE WILL NOT REST UNTIL WE HAVE ENDED THE DRUG OVERDOSE EPIDEMIC.” pic.twitter.com/HZYDOYxLBN — The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 16, 2025 CNN had more details to add on the move by Trump: The Trump administration argues the move will limit the incentive for cartels to create new synthetic, fentanyl-like drugs to evade the reach of the Controlled Substances Act. “Under the HALT Fentanyl Act, anyone who possesses, imports, distributes, or manufactures any illicit FRS (fentanyl-related substances) will be subject to criminal prosecution in the same manner as any other Schedule I controlled substance,” a White House document on the legislation obtained by CNN reads. “First, we close the loopholes criminals use to skirt around the law. Second, we make it easier for law enforcement to prosecute those criminals,” the document says. Thank you to President Trump for the shout-out at the White House today! With his signature, the HALT Fentanyl Act is now the law of the land — and our families and communities are safer because of it. We will continue the fight to keep fentanyl and drugs out of our country. pic.twitter.com/D7JiGln385 — Rep. Randy Feenstra (@RepFeenstra) July 17, 2025