The move comes as the president is focusing his efforts on curbing the flow of illicit drugs into the United States.
On Monday, President Trump signed an executive order that designates fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction.
The executive order directs the attorney general to immediately pursue criminal charges in fentanyl trafficking cases. It also enhances the scope of the administration’s response to the fentanyl crisis in the United States.
The order says that fentanyl is the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45, resulting in the need for a rapid response to curb the flow of the illicit drug into the United States.
“Just two milligrams of fentanyl – equivalent to 10-15 grains of table salt – is considered a lethal dose,” the White House said in a press release.
The order recognizes “the potential for fentanyl to be weaponized for concentrated, large-scale terror attacks by organized adversaries” as a serious threat to national security and to the American people.
“By designating illicit fentanyl as a [Weapon of Mass Destruction], President Trump is ensuring the full weight of the Federal government is focused, coordinated, and mobilized to confront fentanyl as the deadly chemical weapon it is,” said the press release.
The designation of fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction comes as the Trump administration is prioritizing stopping the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs into the United States.
“President Trump will not rest until the cartels are dismantled, illicit fentanyl is eradicated from America’s streets, and every family is safe from this chemical weapon,” the press release emphasized.
At the start of President Trump’s second term, he declared a national emergency at the southern border. Through prioritizing border security, the president aims to stop the flow of drugs into the United States from Mexico and stop cartels from profiting off of this illegal activity that poses a significant risk to the American people.
