VA’s Psychedelic Turn: MDMA Trials, Bipartisan Support, and a Push to Expand Veteran Access
After decades of underinvestment, the VA has begun funding psychedelic research — but Congress must sustain funding, training, and pilot programs to bring FDA‑approved therapies to veterans.
After decades of limited investment, the Department of Veterans Affairs launched clinical trials of MDMA‑assisted therapy in late 2023, marking the VA’s first psychedelic research investment in more than 50 years. The move follows growing evidence: FDA‑overseen Phase 3 trials reported that 67% of participants no longer met PTSD criteria after three MDMA‑assisted therapy sessions, and a large Phase 2 study found a single supported dose of psilocybin significantly reduced treatment‑resistant depression. Bipartisan congressional actions — including unanimous House amendments to the FY2024 MilCon/VA bill, a $10 million Department of Defense research allocation in the FY2024 NDAA, and recent FY2026 language directing the VA to evaluate infrastructure, pilot programs, and provider training — have helped build momentum. Veterans’ advocates and lawmakers argue the VA must be resourced to implement evidence‑based psychedelic therapies safely, or veterans will continue seeking care abroad. Authors include Reps. Lou Correa and Jack Bergman and veteran advocate Juliana Mercer.
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