Democrats Fight Against Passing the HALT FENTANYL ACT over Scheduling Concerns

The HALT Fentanyl Act, aimed at permanently classifying fentanyl analogs under Schedule I, faces resistance from a drug policy nonprofit supported by George Soros, which argues that the legislation would worsen mass incarceration and hinder research into these opioids. Democrats like New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker have echoed these concerns while attempting to delay the bill’s progress through amendments and procedural tactics. Many progressively funded organizations wrote a letter against the HALT Fentanyl Act urging the lawmakers against voting for the bill.

Civil rights groups, public health advocates, and some policy experts argue the bill doubles down on a failed "war on drugs" approach. They contend that permanently scheduling all FRS as Schedule I—without distinguishing between harmful, inert, or potentially therapeutic substances—could stifle medical research into overdose treatments, like naloxone analogs

“Fentanyl and its analogs have been the leading cause of overdose deaths in the United States, with synthetic opioids accounting for over 74,000 fatalities in 2023 alone. Your reluctance to support the HALT Fentanyl Act disregards the escalating death toll and the devastating impact on families and communities nationwide.”

Another grieving parent questioned how the Senate can fix the “larger problem” if they can’t even pass the Halt Act.

“How can the public hold out hope Congress will fix the larger problem of illicit fentanyl crossing our borders every single day?” Lauri Badura asked in a separate letter sent Senate leadership.