Senator Marshall Calls for Full Funding of Drug Trafficking Prevention Program

Washington - U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), released the following statement asking the Senate Appropriations Committee to robustly fund the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program, which works with state and local law enforcement offices across the U.S. to foster collaboration, share resources, and leverage expertise to keep communities safe.

This effort follows the release of President Trump's FY27 Budget, which calls for a 35% reduction in HIDTA funding, as well as the transfer of the program from the Office of National Drug Control Policy to the Department of Justice. Should this transfer and funding reduction occur, the Midwest HIDTA branch would lose significant resources and its ability to tailor strategies to regional needs. Both consequences would undermine the program's mission to effectively reduce the impact of drug trafficking.

"The HIDTA program is a proven tool that puts resources directly in the hands of local law enforcement to combat drug trafficking in our communities," said Senator Marshall. "As the son of a police chief, I know how critical that kind of support is - and I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee to ensure this program has the funding it needs to continue that mission."

Background:

• There are 33 HIDTAs across the U.S. that incorporate counties from all 50 states.
• The Midwest HIDTA represents over 200 law enforcement personnel in Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota.
• The program operates under the Office of the National Drug Control Policy and helps deliver funding and expertise to local law enforcement agencies to combat domestic and international drug trafficking organizations.
• The goal of the Midwest HIDTA is to facilitate coordination between regional drug-control efforts to reduce drug trafficking and its harmful consequences.
• More than 90% of the Midwest HIDTA's funding is allocated directly to state and local law enforcement agencies.

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