The Trump administration is seeking to expand veterans' access to psychedelic treatments
Trump administration seeks to expand VA psychedelic access for veterans with mental illnesses. Veterans Health Administration senior adviser Andrew Gradison told a conference he wants to treat up to 2.1 million veterans with PTSD or depression. No government regulator has deemed psychedelics safe or effective for mental illness; the FDA rejected a 2024 proposal for MDMA-assisted talk therapy for PTSD.
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The Trump administration is seeking to expand veterans’ access to psychedelic treatments, with a Veterans Health Administration adviser describing a goal of reaching as many as 2.1 million people. Andrew Gradison, a senior adviser at President Donald Trump’s Veterans Health Administration, told a conference that he wants to increase the VA’s capacity to provide the drugs to veterans with mental illnesses such as post-traumatic stress disorder or depression. Gradison said 6.4 million veterans rely on VA care.
Government regulators have not recognized psychedelics as safe or effective for mental illness. In 2024, the Food and Drug Administration rejected a proposal to authorize MDMA combined with talk therapy for PTSD. Trump issued an executive order in April to accelerate research, clinical trials and patient access. Veterans frustrated by high suicide rates among former service members are lobbying for Trump to follow through.
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Verifier’s note
POLITICO reports that a senior Veterans Health Administration adviser wants to expand the VA’s capacity to provide psychedelic treatments to as many as 2.1 million veterans with mental-health conditions. This directly supports the proposed event and is published on the stated date.