Trump’s Psychedelic Executive Order Is Another Power Grab Dressed as “Balance”

In an op-ed for The Washington Post, former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb lauds President Trump’s recent executive order on psychedelics, calling it a “healthy balance” between regulation and access. But beneath the surface, this move is less about public safety and more about consolidating federal power at the expense of states and communities.

Gottlieb argues that preserving centralized federal gatekeeping ensures safety when it comes to emerging treatments like psychedelics. Yet this perspective ignores the growing evidence that decentralized, locally informed approaches can be equally effective without the heavy-handed bureaucracy. The Trump administration’s insistence on top-down control fits a broader pattern of authoritarian overreach, where executive orders are used to bypass Congress and dismantle established norms.

This executive order is not an isolated incident but part of a systematic strategy to centralize authority, often under the pretense of protecting citizens. It sidelines state regulators, ignores community voices, and stifles innovation by imposing rigid federal standards. The result is a chilling effect on research and access to potentially life-saving therapies, all while claiming to prioritize safety.

Trump’s approach to psychedelics mirrors his administration’s tactics across other sectors — from immigration enforcement to voting rights — where centralized control is wielded as a blunt instrument to suppress dissent and consolidate power. The “healthy balance” Gottlieb praises is more accurately described as a power grab dressed in regulatory jargon.

For Americans concerned about government accountability and democratic integrity, this executive order is a warning sign. Centralized federal gatekeeping is not the only way to ensure safety — and it is certainly not the best way when it comes at the cost of transparency, local autonomy, and civil rights. We must demand policies that respect democratic norms rather than erode them under the guise of public health.