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The Senate on Tuesday confirmed investigative journalist Sara Carter as director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, installing her as the nation’s new “drug czar” to lead the Trump administration’s efforts to combat the fentanyl crisis.
Carter, a longtime national security and border correspondent, was confirmed in a 52-48 vote that largely followed party lines. Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul joined Democrats in opposing the nomination.
“Thank you @realDonaldTrump for your confidence and faith in me to lead the charge to end the scourge of illegal drugs that have killed millions of Americans and have robbed too many families of their children. I will work tirelessly to support your vision to put every Narco-terrorist on notice, letting them know their days of killing Americans are over,” Carter posted to X following the announcement.
President Donald Trump nominated Carter last year, citing her experience reporting on cartel violence, fentanyl trafficking and U.S.-Mexico border security. She will now oversee federal policy and funding related to drug prevention, enforcement and recovery programs.
Carter has earned multiple national journalism awards, including the Society of Professional Journalists’ Sigma Delta Chi Award for her coverage of the Gulf and Sinaloa cartel wars. Her reporting has frequently highlighted the intersection of border security and the nation’s escalating opioid epidemic.
“My work in the frontlines wasn’t just about telling stories, it was about mapping the enemy,” Carter told senators during her September confirmation hearing, according to Politico. “I have seen these predatory criminal empires operate with impunity in our hemisphere. That impunity ends now. This is not just a public health crisis, it’s a chemical war being waged against the American people.”
The new drug czar will play a key role in coordinating national efforts to disrupt fentanyl trafficking networks, expand access to addiction treatment and strengthen border enforcement. Administration officials have said Carter’s investigative background brings a unique perspective to a role historically held by policymakers or public health experts.
Carter succeeds interim director Douglas Hoelscher, who has served since last spring. Her confirmation marks a shift toward a more aggressive approach to combating drug cartels and synthetic opioid distribution — a top priority for Trump’s second term.
