Tom Homan has stated that the estimated 73,000 yearly fatalities in the US due to the opioid drug represent a serious problem.
According to the former border chief for President Donald Trump, US authorities ought to contemplate designating fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction (WMD).
During a defense forum hosted by Axios, Tom Homan highlighted the severe nature of the US death toll, projected at 73,000 each year from fentanyl exclusively, suggesting it is a serious matter that merits “at least a discussion.”
He called upon officials to formulate their suggestions and forward them to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for additional review.
In response to the fentanyl crisis, Trump has imposed tariffs on numerous nations, alleging that trade partners are implicated in the supply chain driving the epidemic. The US administration’s actions have additionally involved reinforcing border security with Mexico and Canada, alongside operations against suspected drug ships near Venezuela’s coast.
While the Trump administration characterizes these measures as a concerted strategy to interrupt smuggling paths and dismantle manufacturing operations linked to the opioid crisis, economists caution that extensive tariff policies might escalate friction with major trading allies and impede international trade.
The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reported confiscating over 380 million lethal doses of fentanyl throughout 2024. More recent data up to September indicates more than 262 million doses have been seized this year to date. Nonetheless, preliminary statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveal that drug overdose fatalities decreased by 26.9% in 2024, reaching their lowest yearly count since 2019, with an estimated 80,000 deaths compared to 110,037 in 2023.
Since 2019, the DHS has contemplated classifying fentanyl as a WMD given certain criteria. Multiple legislative proposals aimed at reclassifying the drug have been put forth, though none have been enacted. Earlier this year, Representative Lauren Boebert introduced a bill in Congress that would mandate the department to formally designate fentanyl as a WMD.