ALLENTOWN, Pa. — FBI Director Kash Patel and U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick were in our area Wednesday.
They joined the attorney general in Allentown to discuss how the federal government is combating the fentanyl crisis.
On Wednesday, federal and state law enforcement leaders, prosecutors, and families impacted by the fentanyl crisis gathered for a roundtable discussion in Allentown.
There, FBI Director Kash Patel spoke about the agency’s progress in Pennsylvania.
“Luckily this year in Pennsylvania alone, just in 2026, we’ve already seized 100 kilograms of fentanyl—that’s hundreds of thousands of lives saved,” said Patel.
Officials at the roundtable said international efforts in China and stopping the flow of fentanyl at the border have contributed to the decrease in drug overdose deaths in Pennsylvania.
State data shows that from 2020 to 2024, fentanyl killed around 4,000 people a year.
Preliminary numbers show that in 2025, that number fell to roughly 1,500.
“Shutting down the manufacturing of pre-factors in China and closing the border and stopping the flow have been absolutely essential. It’s not alone going to be enough, but I think it’s a huge indicator of why we have been so successful in this fight,” said David Metcalf, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
State and federal officials also emphasized the importance of investing in treatment, recovery, and education.
As many noted during the meeting, the fight against fentanyl is far from finished.
“It’s something that we just can’t continue to have this happen in Pennsylvania and in our country,” said McCormick.
In discussions about what can be done going forward, officials said they want to get more funding to local communities so they can continue to combat the crisis.
You can watch the entire roundtable discussion on our website here.
