In a move that has stirred significant attention, the Trump administration has disbanded the Drug Testing Advisory Board (DTAB), a body that for over 30 years guided federal drug testing programs.
Established in 1988, the DTAB ensured the credibility and precision of federal drug testing methods, notably overseeing the development of a new rule under review by the White House. This rule could pave the way for motor carriers to test drivers using hair samples.
“Among advisory committees, the DTAB’s input was often more beneficial than most, as its members—experts in law, medicine, and the field—offered specialized knowledge derived from direct experience,” stated Steve Keppler, co-director of Scopelitis Transportation Consulting.
However, Keppler noted that while the trucking industry didn’t always align with the board’s conclusions, the DTAB’s authority often carried more weight than other federal committees, a reality that sometimes left trucking stakeholders frustrated.
The proposed rule, under discussion for nearly a decade, has faced delays primarily due to scientific challenges.
“When used correctly, advisory committees provide essential insights, complementing the cumbersome rulemaking process,” Keppler added.
The DTAB, affiliated with the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), played a key role in shaping drug and alcohol testing policy.
But just days before the board’s dissolution, its chairman, Ron Flegel, announced an unexpected retirement, signaling dissatisfaction with the direction of the program.
“It will be very difficult to communicate to the public without the DTAB,” said a SAMHSA insider. “The lack of personnel will delay progress.”
This move reflects a broader trend of staff reductions within SAMHSA, attributed to the Trump administration’s push for efficiency, according to the same source.
Flegel, in his farewell email, expressed that the stress from staying would outweigh the benefits, making his departure inevitable.
A SAMHSA spokesperson explained, “The Drug Testing Advisory Board’s role was advisory, not regulatory. The voluntary service of the council’s members is typically terminated with the arrival of a new administration.”
Despite this, the DTAB has endured through the past six presidential terms.
While the American Trucking Associations (ATA) is still assessing the long-term impact of the board’s dissolution, Brenna Lyles, the ATA’s senior director of safety policy, indicated that the immediate effects on the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) drug testing program should be minimal.
However, she cautioned, “In the long run, the absence of the DTAB could slow the integration of new scientific findings into federal drug testing standards, affecting future developments.”
The Trump administration has yet to clarify its stance on the proposed rule, leaving experts uncertain about the future direction of federal drug testing policy.
“Without a group of practitioners to consult, the regulation and implementation of drug testing will be harder to navigate,” Keppler observed. “This area of regulation is constantly evolving, and without the DTAB, the government’s ability to keep pace with emerging science is compromised.”
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