Photo: Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images News / Getty Images
Senator Kaine Slams Trump Administration for Blocking $140 Million in Fentanyl Crisis Funding
Senator Tim Kaine is calling out the Trump Administration for withholding $140 million in federal funding that Congress had approved to fight the fentanyl overdose crisis. Kaine, who serves on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, expressed deep frustration over the move.
“I’m thankful that during the Biden Administration, we made real progress — including passing my Disrupt Fentanyl Trafficking Act — and overdose deaths in Virginia have dropped,” Kaine said. “But losing even one life is too many, and it’s unacceptable for the Trump Administration to block critical funding that could help save more lives.”
Kaine also noted the timing, pointing out that the funding freeze came just after former President Trump signed off on major tax cuts for the wealthy, which he claims were paid for by slashing programs that everyday families depend on. “It’s a clear signal of who this Administration prioritizes,” Kaine said, urging Republican lawmakers to join him in fighting back against the decision.
Kaine has played a central role in addressing the opioid epidemic through legislation:
- His Disrupt Fentanyl Trafficking Act reclassified fentanyl trafficking as a national security threat, unlocking federal intelligence resources and formalizing cooperation with Mexico.
- He helped pass the FEND Off Fentanyl Act, which gives the President power to sanction global drug trafficking networks.
- In 2024, he visited Texas border towns to meet with law enforcement and Mexican officials about fentanyl interdiction.
- Kaine also introduced two bipartisan bills targeting xylazine, or "tranq" — the STOP TRANQ Act (requiring global reporting on the drug) and the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, which would classify it as a Schedule III controlled substance while protecting legitimate veterinary use.
Kaine emphasized that tackling the fentanyl crisis requires continued bipartisan commitment — and that blocking already-approved funds is a step backward.