Trump Administration Pens Order to Expand Psychedelic Therapy Research & Treatment

On Saturday, April 18, 2026, the Trump Administration penned a commitment to “accelerating medical treatments” for serious mental illnesses. The executive order cites “long struggles” of the medical field to treat the 14 million Americans suffering from a “mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder.”

The directive centers on the therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugs - including the compound ibogaine, which the administration believes may “reverse the mental illness crisis.”

Here’s what you need to know about psychedelic therapies for treating mental illness, and what the research says about ibogaine vs. well-known alternatives like psilocybin.

Expanding Access to Psychedelics: The Executive Order

The President’s executive order outlines several provisions intended to advance breakthroughs in psychedelic science and make treatments more available.

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It’s worth noting that executive orders are not Congressional legislation. They are legally enforceable, but may be challenged in court. Here are the main provisions of the order:

Drugs previously granted Breakthrough Therapy status shall be awarded priority review status by the FDA.
The FDA and DEA will enable a pathway for eligible patients to access psychedelic drugs.
Fifty million dollars will be allocated to State governments to advance psychedelic treatment programs.
The FDA and VA will share clinical data and collaborate on the development of clinical trials.
The Attorney General will review the Schedule I status of psychedelics that have successfully completed Phase 3 clinical trials for mental health disorders.

The Clinical Potential of Psychedelics for Mental Health

Executive orders may not carry as much legal weight as laws passed through Congress, but the Administration’s action highlights the clinical potential of psychedelics all the same. Here’s what we’re learning along the way.

A landmark 2022 trial showed that single-dose psilocybin treatments, along with psychological support, significantly reduced treatment-resistant depression scores.
One 2025 trial found that just one dose of LSD helped quell anxiety for months.
One 2026 trial found that participants who received psilocybin to treat tobacco addiction were six times more likely to be smoking abstinent at 6 months in comparison to those who received a nicotine patch.
A late 2025 review of over 100 trials corroborated the “efficacy and safety” of psychedelic interventions in the short term, highlighting applicability to PTSD as well.
Long-term efficacy, with psilocybin therapy showing effects sustained at 5 years post session,for major depression, and 4.5 years post session for the treatment of psychiatric and existential distress associated with a terminal cancer diagnosis.

Psilocybin vs. Ibogaine: What To Know

Much of the conversation around psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) involves the use of psilocybin - the active ingredient in “magic” mushrooms. During the announcement of the executive order, the President and his advisors repeatedly mentioned another psychedelic called ibogaine.

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Ibogaine is a psychedelic derived from the African fungi Tabermanthe iboga. Like psilocybin, ibogaine is a Schedule I controlled substance in the U.S. Unlike psilocybin, there’s a dearth of high-quality research on its properties and medical potential. That said…

A 2025 clinical trial of ibogaine plus magnesium on veterans with traumatic brain injury found that ibogaine helped calm overactive neural activity and facilitated “cognitive improvements.”
Other studies have remarked on ibogaine’s “rapid healing” potential, based on subjective user data.

More research is needed, but what seems evident at this stage is that ibogaine may provide a more restorative experience, like a physiological “brain salve,” than psilocybin, which is often used to widen perspectives or open new neural pathways.

Key Takeaways

The Trump Administration has published an executive order directing expanded research into and funding for psychedelics.
The Executive Order in question highlights the need for new treatment options in the fight against mental health afflictions.
The President specifically highlighted ibogaine, a psychedelic with trials supporting its utility in soothing conditions like PTSD.

Sources

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