Trump picks Florida sheriff to lead DEA
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President-elect Trump is turning to a Tampa-area sheriff to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration's efforts to combat the flow of fentanyl and other illegal drugs across the southern border.
Why it matters: If confirmed, Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister would be the point person for containing a highly addictive man-made opioid that's a leading cause of death and frequently disguised in unexpected forms.
- Most of the trafficked fentanyl is mass produced at factories in Mexico with chemicals largely sourced from China, according to the DEA. Pills are often made to look like real prescription medications.
Driving the news: Trump picked Chronister for DEA administrator on Saturday, saying he would work with Attorney General-designate Pam Bondi to stop drug trafficking across the border with Mexico.
- Chronister has served with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office for the past 28 years. He has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and a master's in criminology from St. Leo University, and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy's 260th Session.
- Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody praised his work on the opioid crisis, writing on X that "his leadership and decades of experience will be invaluable as we work to combat the flow of Mexican fentanyl into our county."
The big picture: Beyond fentanyl, the DEA was involved in an intragency dispute over the virtual prescribing of controlled substances that threatened access to drugs like Adderall. The agency and Health and Human Services last month agreed to temporarily extend telemedicine flexibilities dating to the pandemic that were due to expire at the end of this year.
- Chronister, if confirmed, will have to settle the question of whether to continue making controlled substances available without an in-person doctor's visit.
- Behavioral health providers say access to drugs like Adderall and other amphetamines like Vyvanse used for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder would be even tighter if old limits requiring an in-person doctor's visit were restored.
- The Biden administration DEA originally proposed making providers write 50% of controlled substance prescriptions in person and set other requirements.
