Pappas Pressure Helps Increase Funding to Take On Drug Traffickers

Following advocacy led by Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) in opposition to the Trump Administration’s proposed $102 million cut to the High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program, legislation advanced out of Appropriations subcommittee markup this week that would not only fully fund the HIDTA program for FY2026, but increase their budget relative to FY2025. This legislation will be considered by the full Appropriations Committee in September. HIDTA provides essential coordination assistance to federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies in critical drug-trafficking regions to reduce drug trafficking.

In 2024 the HIDTA program seized 4.1 million pounds of fentanyl and other drugs and disrupted or dismantled 3,209 drug trafficking or money laundering organizations, stopping traffickers from making an estimated $17.7 billion in illicit profits. There are 33 HIDTAs throughout the country, serving all 50 states. Hillsborough and Rockingham counties in New Hampshire are both part of the New England HIDTA (NEHIDTA). For every dollar invested in the HIDTA program, taxpayers receive a $68.07 return on investment.

“The High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program does vital work coordinating federal, state, and local responses to drug trafficking to stop deadly substances from coming into our communities and bring criminal traffickers to justice,” said Congressman Pappas. “President Trump’s efforts to slash this critical funding are incredibly reckless and, if they are successful, would degrade law enforcement’s ability to protect Granite Staters and put traffickers behind bars. That is why I led this effort to restore, and ultimately increase, HIDTA’s budget. I remain committed to providing law enforcement at all levels with the resources, funding, and support they need to protect our communities.”

In a letter to House Appropriations Committee leadership in July, Pappas wrote: “We urge you to heed our collective call and ensure that HIDTAs receive the full funding and structural support needed to protect our communities. We appreciate your attention to this important issue.”

Pappas also highlighted the concerns of local communities and law enforcement in the July letter, writing, “Local partners have also raised their concerns. The Administration’s request to cut HIDTA funding by $102 million has also received 67 letters of opposition and counting from police departments, sheriffs’ associations, police chiefs’ associations, associations of narcotics enforcers, and non-profits.