As the U.S. grapples with a deepening mental health crisis, two bipartisan lawmakers are pressing for a federal regulatory framework to bring psychedelic-assisted therapies into the mainstream medical system. Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI) and Rep. Lou Correa (D-CA), co-chairs of the Congressional Psychedelics Advancing Therapies (PATH) Caucus, argue that current federal policies lag behind the urgent needs of patients and veterans.
Every day, more than 130 Americans die by suicide, including over 20 veterans. Psychedelic-assisted treatments have shown promise for conditions like treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, substance use disorders, and generalized anxiety disorder. Yet many patients are forced to travel abroad to access these therapies, a situation the lawmakers say is both unsafe and inequitable.
“We are grateful for the Trump administration’s work to accelerate research on these therapies and the FDA’s granting of Breakthrough Therapy designation to multiple psychedelic-based drug products, including psilocybin and MDMA,” the lawmakers wrote. “But more needs to be done at the federal level to ensure safe and effective therapies reach the people who need them the most.”
Two years ago, the PATH Caucus issued a formal request for information to stakeholders, seeking input on integrating psychedelic medicine into U.S. healthcare. Respondents emphasized that psychedelics are not “magic bullets” but can be transformative when delivered in safe, structured settings. The feedback pointed to a pragmatic path: accelerating legitimate medical development while building strong guardrails for safety, ethics, and equity.
The lawmakers are now calling for national standards for service delivery and practitioner credentialing. They also stress the need for labeling requirements and codified best practices for “set and setting,” crisis response, and pre- and post-session integration support. Without such guidance, they warn, the coming FDA approvals could lead to inconsistent and unsafe use.
“It’s no longer a matter of if psychedelic-assisted therapies will enter the American health care system, but when,” they said. “All attention must focus on how we can integrate them safely and effectively, so that patients in need can access these treatments.”
The push comes as psychedelics gain traction in the Trump health agenda, with the MAHA coalition advocating for their inclusion in federal research priorities. Meanwhile, broader absentee lawmakers have sparked a bipartisan push for congressional reform, highlighting the challenges of legislating on complex health issues.
Bergman, a retired Marine Corps lieutenant general, and Correa, a former prosecutor, have made this a signature issue. They argue that establishing a coherent federal framework is essential to protect patients, ensure equitable access, and deliver life-enhancing benefits to millions of Americans suffering from severe mental and physical health challenges.
“We must seize this moment,” they concluded, urging Congress and federal agencies to act before the anticipated FDA approvals. The window for proactive policymaking is narrowing, and the stakes for public health could not be higher.
