U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order formally classifying fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction.
Trump signed the order in the Oval Office on Monday alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, border czar Tom Homan, and senior military officials.
Under the order, fentanyl is described as a substance capable of being weaponized for large-scale terror attacks by organized adversaries. Trump said the drug’s impact exceeds that of conventional weapons, stating that no bomb causes comparable devastation.
The order characterizes illicit fentanyl as closer to a chemical weapon than a narcotic, noting that as little as two milligrams — roughly 10 to 15 grains of salt — can be fatal.
The administration has not yet detailed how the designation will alter enforcement, military, or legal policy, or what new consequences may apply to traffickers or users.
Traditionally, weapons of mass destruction have referred to nuclear, chemical, biological, or kinetic threats capable of widespread and lasting harm.
The move aligns with Trump’s second-term agenda targeting drug cartels. On his first day back in office, he designated multiple cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and specially designated global terrorists.
