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The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan
The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

President Trump signs Grassley-led bill to combat the trafficking of fentanyl-related substances

The bill, the HALT Fentanyl Act, aims to increase penalties for trafficking fentanyl-related substances.
Liam Halawith, Summer Editor
July 17, 2025
REUTERS/via SNO Sites/Nathan Howard
U.S President Donald Trump holds the HALT Fentanyl Act after signing, in the East Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 16, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard

President Donald Trump signed a bill led by U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, into law on Wednesday that aims to schedule fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I narcotics permanently.

The bill was a bipartisan effort, with the Iowa Republican joined by Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee in championing the bill.

The bill ends the need for Congress to continue to reapprove the Trump administration’s scheduling of fentanyl-related substances during his first term in 2018.

“The HALT Fentanyl Act is now the law of the land, marking a major victory in America’s fight against fentanyl,” Grassley said in a statement Wednesday evening. “By permanently classifying fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I, the HALT Fentanyl Act will save American lives and prevent deadly fentanyl knockoffs from making their way into Iowa communities.”

A Schedule I controlled substance is a drug or related substance that has a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use in the U.S.

The bill was introduced in January, approved by the Senate in March, and approved by the U.S. House in June.

U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, was one of the original cosponsors of the bill in the House. Miller-Meeks said she was proud to help get this bill passed and signed by Trump, and “it could not come at a more urgent time.”

“Fentanyl is flooding our streets, killing Iowans, and tearing families apart,” Miller-Meeks said. “With this law in place, we’re going on offense. We’re giving law enforcement what they need to crack down, take control, and stop this poison from claiming more lives.”

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird attended the bill signing and hailed the bill’s benefits in a statement Thursday.

“This bill is a huge win for Iowa and the entire country,” Bird said in a statement Thursday. “As a mom and prosecutor, I am deeply aware of the devastating effects fentanyl has had on our communities. And as Attorney General, I hear about this issue from Iowans regularly. I want to thank Senator Grassley for his efforts in making sure this bill was passed.”