GOP Congressman Says Trump’s Government Cuts Could Help Psychedelics Reform By Making Federal Agencies ‘Grow Spines’ To Tackle Issue

A Republican congressman is expressing optimism about the prospects of advancing psychedelics reform under President Donald Trump, arguing that the administration’s efforts to cut spending and the federal workforce will give agencies “spines” to tackle such complex issues.

Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI), co-chair of the Psychedelics Advancing Therapies (PATH) Caucus, spoke with Marijuana Moment on Wednesday about the momentum behind psychedelics reform in the new Congress.

“I know we have a new administration—and I believe this administration looks at all the agencies under its purview and says, ‘Do your job for the American public,'” he said.

He pointed out that, under the prior administration, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rejected an application to authorize MDMA-assisted therapy based on an advisory panel’s recommendation. He called the denial a “spineless way out.”

“This administration is basically growing spines in agencies where they need a spine. I’m good with that,” Bergman said. “We know the time is right. It’s overdue for us, as the federal government, to put the money into research to enable alternative therapies—whatever it might mean—to become a reality.”

“We have some of the greatest scientists in the world, so let’s put them in a lab and let’s figure it out,” the congressman said, adding that the fact that psychedelics may improve mental health outcomes for military veterans underscores the need to advance reform.

“The bottom line is: What better group to get the opportunity to have a better life because of new therapies?” he said. “It’s good for everybody. This is not a Democrat or Republican issue.”

Although Bergman is hopeful about putting money into psychedelics studies, it’s worth noting that the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) created by the Trump administration, recently touted the cancellation of a grant to support marijuana research.

Asked about the relative inaction on cannabis policy issues under the new Congress, Bergman drew a parallel to flying airplanes, as he’s done as a veteran himself.

“The laws of aerodynamics only apply across all platforms up to a certain limit. So in this case, let’s stick to the psychedelics side,” he said.

Rep. Lou Correa (D-CA), the other co-chair of the PATH Caucus, also spoke with Marijuana Moment and similarly drew a distinction between marijuana and psychedelics policy considerations under the 119th Congress.

“If I may presuppose, I think we’ve got the momentum” with respect to psychedelics,” he said. “The momentum is there.”

As far as the caucus is concerned, Bergman said members are simply “trying to do the right thing for the right reason.”

“Good people will sit down and work things out,” he said.

While talks of marijuana legalization or even more modest proposals such as banking reform have been largely muted so far this Congress, psychedelics policy has been a point of interest at the state and federal level this year. For example, veterans service organizations recently called attention to the need for alternative therapies such as psilocybin at congressional appropriations hearings.

Meanwhile, in December, Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) urged FDA to finalize guidance on conducting clinical trials into psychedelics to facilitate research, including investigations focusing on the potential benefits of substances such as MDMA and psilocybin for military veterans.

FDA released first-ever draft guidance on studying psychedelics last year.

Separately, in December bipartisan congressional lawmakers celebrated news that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will be funding a study to explore the efficacy of MDMA-assisted therapy for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD).

After VA announced that it would be providing $1.5 million in funding for the research initiative, Bergman and Correa put out statements cheering the effort and claiming some credit for the development after advocating for expanded federal studies into psychedelics therapy.

Congressional lawmakers also staged an event at the U.S. Capitol calling for the MDMA approval by FDA last July, and they additionally launched an art installation memorializing military veterans who died by suicide.

The LCB contributed reporting from Washington, D.C.

Two Months Into New Congress, Bipartisan Marijuana Leaders Have Yet To Even Meet As Psychedelics Caucus Sees ‘Momentum’

Photo courtesy of Dick Culbert.