Sara Carter, a longtime Fox News contributor since 2017, has been appointed by President Donald Trump to lead the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), becoming the nation’s newest “drug czar” and adding to the growing list of Fox News personalities joining the administration.
Trump announced Carter’s appointment on his Truth Social platform, highlighting her journalism experience covering border issues and drug trafficking, areas that have been central to Trump’s policy platform. According to multiple reports, Carter has won several journalism awards for her reporting on Mexican drug cartels throughout her career. The 44-year-old investigative journalist will now transition from her media role to head the federal agency responsible for coordinating the nation’s drug policies.
“From Afghanistan to our Border, Sarah’s relentless pursuit of Justice, especially in tackling the Fentanyl and Opioid Crisis, has exposed terrorists, drug lords, and sex traffickers,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “As our next Drug Czar, Sara will lead the charge to protect our Nation, and save our children from the scourge of drugs.”
Fox News confirmed that Carter is no longer affiliated with the network as of the announcement. She has yet to make a public statement regarding her nomination to the position, which requires Senate confirmation.
If confirmed by the Senate, Carter would succeed Dr. Rahul Gupta as the director of ONDCP and would become the first woman to serve as drug czar. The office she will lead coordinates drug policy across 19 federal agencies and oversees a budget of approximately $44 billion.
Carter’s appointment has raised some questions among policy experts due to her lack of direct experience in drug policy, public health, or law enforcement. Before her nomination, she had never served in government. However, supporters point to her extensive reporting on border issues and drug trafficking as valuable experience for the role.
Carter’s selection continues a pattern of the president hiring media personalities from Fox News for his administration. Carter becomes the 22nd Fox News personality or contributor to join Trump’s team during his second term.
The relationship between the Trump administration and Fox News personalities has been described by some outlets as a “revolving door,” with numerous hosts, contributors, and commentators moving from the network into government positions.
Among the most high-profile Fox News figures now serving in the administration is Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense. Other notable appointments include Sean Duffy as Transportation Secretary, Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence, and Dan Bongino as Deputy Director of the FBI under Kash Patel.
Several Fox personalities now serve as spokespeople across various departments, including Monica Crowley and Tammy Bruce. Tom Homan, who serves as Trump’s border czar, previously worked as a Fox News commentator during Trump’s first term.
Other former Fox News affiliates now in the administration include Mike Waltz, Mike Huckabee, and Sebastian Gorka, demonstrating the president’s preference for individuals with media experience and a strong public presence.
The extensive Fox News representation in the administration reflects Trump’s complex relationship with the network. While he has occasionally criticized Fox News publicly, he has consistently drawn from its talent pool to fill key positions in his government.
The Office of National Drug Control Policy, which Carter will lead, was established in 1988 and has traditionally focused on coordinating the federal government’s response to substance misuse and drug trafficking. In recent years, the agency has placed particular emphasis on addressing the opioid crisis, including the proliferation of synthetic opioids like fentanyl.
The ONDCP plays a central role in developing and implementing the National Drug Control Strategy, coordinating anti-drug efforts through public health and safety measures while providing funding to law enforcement and community-based coalitions. The agency also manages the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program and the Drug-Free Communities Program, which provide hundreds of millions of dollars to help communities combat drug issues.
Carter’s journalism has frequently highlighted border security concerns, including the trafficking of illicit drugs across the southern border. Trump has repeatedly connected border security issues with the nation’s drug problems, arguing that stronger border enforcement is necessary to combat drug trafficking and addiction.
As drug czar, Carter would be responsible for developing policies that balance law enforcement approaches with public health interventions. The ONDCP works with various stakeholders, including federal agencies, state and local governments, healthcare providers, and community organizations to implement comprehensive drug control strategies.
