The Department of Health and Human Services reinstated $2 billion in mental-health and substance-abuse grants one day after notifying recipients the money would be canceled, an administration official confirmed to Natalie A. Brooks.
At a Glance
- HHS reversed a Tuesday cancellation of mental-health and addiction grants
- The funding supports suicide hotlines, opioid treatment, and disaster-response counseling
- Physicians and advocacy groups warned the cuts would dismantle care networks
- Why it matters: The sudden reversal leaves providers uncertain about future federal support
The about-face came Wednesday after the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) had told grantees Tuesday that awards were being rescinded.
Lawmakers and Advocates React
Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, said Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “bowed to public pressure” in restoring the funds.
“These are cuts he should not have issued in the first place,” she said in a statement. “He must be cautious when making decisions that will impact Americans’ health. Our policy must be thoughtful-not haphazard and chaotic. This episode has only created uncertainty and confusion for families and healthcare providers.”
Natalie A. Brooks has reached out to the Department of Health and Human Services for further information.
What the Funding Supports
SAMHSA, part of HHS, finances programs that include:
- Suicide and crisis phone lines
- Opioid treatment programs
- Behavioral-health response after disasters
The initial cancellation drew swift condemnation from medical societies and patient-advocacy organizations.
Medical Groups Warned of Collapse
The American College of Emergency Physicians said in a press release it was “deeply concerned” with the planned cuts.
“These abrupt cuts threaten to dismantle the fragile continuum of care that helps people access treatment early and stay connected to services,” said Dr. L. Anthony Cirillo, the group’s president.
Daniel H. Gillison Jr., CEO of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, called the proposed cancellation “disheartening and cruel.”
“These abrupt and unjustified cuts will immediately disrupt suicide prevention efforts, family and peer recovery support, overdose prevention and treatment, and mental health awareness and education programming, along with so many more essential services, putting an unknown number of lives at stake,” he said before the funds were restored.
Timeline of Events
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | SAMHSA notifies grantees of cancellation |
| Wednesday | HHS reinstates $2 billion after public backlash |
Providers now await formal written confirmation that their awards remain intact for the current budget cycle.
