Some of President Donald Trump’s top law enforcement officials converged at the Luzerne County Courthouse on Monday to discuss progress made in the nationwide fight against the fentanyl scourge — and to tout the administration’s border-control efforts ahead of a hotly contested midterm election coming up in two weeks.
U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche, Drug Enforcement Administrator Terrence “Terry” Cole and Drug Czar Sara Carter met with local police and prosecutors for a roundtable discussion on the fentanyl epidemic prior to holding a news conference in the courthouse rotunda alongside Republican U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick and U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan, who is up for reelection.
McCormick asserted that a “staggering” number of fatal overdoses during the height of the crisis — over 100,000 reported nationwide in 2023 — has plummeted in large part due to the Trump administration’s efforts to secure the border.
“This was a national scourge and a scourge to Pennsylvania that demanded action,” McCormick said. “There’s been enormous progress.”
The discussion took place a month after Luzerne County authorities issued a renewed warning about overdoses involving fentanyl. While the number of fentanyl overdoses in the county has dropped dramatically from the record-setting toll amassed during the height of the epidemic, officials say they have seen a recent trend of fentanyl being surreptitiously mixed with cocaine and methamphetamine.
During Monday’s news conference, Blanche highlighted several large drug operations that were recently broken up elsewhere in the state and said they demonstrate what can happen with effective cooperation between local, state and federal law enforcement.
“Since President Trump took office, lethal doses of fentanyl have decreased by 59%, and that’s really in large part because we shut down the border,” Blanche said. “We take this fight seriously because we have a president who knows there are real people who are affected by these crimes.”
Cole, the DEA administrator, said the agency stopped about 14 million fentanyl pills from hitting the streets every other month last year and attributed that success to the “holistic approach” to law enforcement being applied.
“It is important to remember: This is a top-down approach about America first, about Americans fist,” Cole said. “We will continue to lead the way.”
Carter, the drug czar, said the fentanyl scourge is not a partisan issue but rather “an American issue.” She went on to say fatal overdoses have declined by over 40% since President Joe Biden left office.
“That is over 300,000 lives saved each year by comparison because of common sense — common sense laws,” Carter said. “Thanks to the bold, decisive and effective actions of President Donald J. Trump and his administration, we are finally turning the tide on what I describe as the longest war in our nation’s history the war on fentanyl, the war on drugs.”
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said his office seized about 56 million doses of fentanyl last year. He similarly credited the law enforcement partnership with helping to protect the state’s communities.
“If our communities aren’t safe, nothing else matters,” Sunday said.
The rare visit by top administration officials to the Luzerne County Courthouse came two weeks before November’s general election, in which Bresnahan is locked in a competitive re-election bid against Democratic Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti in the 8th Congressional District.
The Republican contingent that met for the roundtable discussion Monday was quick to lavish praise on Bresnahan, with McCormick saying he has “truly been a leader” and Sunday praising his support last year for the Halt All Lethal Trafficking Fentanyl Act.
“He has used his time in Washington to be laser-focused on public safety,” Sunday said, describing Bresnahan and McCormick as “true partners.” “In a short time, he has become very effective at delivering resources into Northeast PA, and that matters big time. … I know that Rob has delivered for this area.”
Bresnahan told the crowd he remains committed to protecting funding and programs aimed at fighting the epidemic with a multi-pronged approach.
“I’m grateful for the administration’s efforts to strengthen our borders and stop the flow of fentanyl from coming into our country,” Bresnahan said. “When federal, state, local and county officials come together we should see better results: fewer overdoses, more traffickers prosecuted and less fentanyl reaching our streets.”
In a statement issued Monday afternoon, Cognetti said that as a mother as well as a mayor, she is also committed to keeping the region’s families safe from fentanyl.
“I’ve seen the heartbreak fentanyl has caused across Northeastern Pennsylvania,” Cognetti said. “That’s why in Scranton, we’ve invested millions in our police department to help officers fight drug trafficking and keep dangerous drugs off our streets. I’ll work with anyone, Republican or Democrat, who’s serious about stopping fentanyl and putting traffickers behind bars. I’ve made public safety a priority in Scranton, and I’ll bring that same determination to Congress.”