At a Glance
- The Department of Health and Human Services reinstated $2 billion in mental-health and substance-abuse funding one day after canceling it.
- The abrupt reversal followed pushback from physicians, crisis-line operators, and family-support groups.
- Rep. Rosa DeLauro says Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “bowed to public pressure.”
- Why it matters: The funds keep suicide hotlines, opioid-treatment centers, and disaster-response counseling alive for millions of Americans.
The Department of Health and Human Services has restored $2 billion in mental-health and substance-abuse grants less than 24 hours after notifying recipients the money was canceled, an administration official confirmed to Jordan M. Lewis.
The One-Day Flip
On Tuesday, groups that rely on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) were told their awards were terminated. On Wednesday, the same agencies received new notices: the dollars were back.
The reversal came after physicians, emergency-room doctors, and behavioral-health advocates flooded congressional offices and the department with protests.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, pinned the change on public outcry.
“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.”
What the Money Funds
SAMHSA, a branch of HHS, bankrolls services that touch every state:
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline call centers
- Opioid-use-disorder treatment and naloxone distribution
- Counseling after hurricanes, wildfires, and mass shootings
- Peer-support groups for families coping with addiction
- Training for first responders on mental-health crises
The administration official did not detail why the funds were pulled or what triggered the reinstatement. News Of Philadelphia has requested clarification.
Medical Groups Reacted Within Hours
The American College of Emergency Physicians issued a press release Tuesday night calling the cuts “deeply concerning.”
“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, labeled the cancellation “disheartening and cruel” before the reversal was announced.
He warned the loss would:
- Disrupt suicide-prevention hotlines
- End family and peer-recovery sessions
- Stall overdose-prevention programs
- Silence mental-health education campaigns
“Putting an unknown number of lives at stake,” Gillison said.
Timeline of the Whiplash
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | HHS emails grantees: awards canceled effective immediately |
| Tuesday night | Physician groups release statements condemning move |
| Wednesday | Rep. DeLauro issues public statement pressuring Secretary Kennedy |
| Wednesday afternoon | HHS notifies recipients funds restored |
No Explanation Yet
The department has not provided written reasoning for either the cancellation or the reinstatement. Grantees told News Of Philadelphia they received only form-letter notices each time.
SAMHSA’s budget for mental-health and substance-abuse programs totals roughly $9 billion annually; the restored $2 billion represents about 22 percent of that portfolio.
Key Takeaways
- $2 billion in SAMHSA grants are again available after a 24-hour pause.
- Crisis hotlines, opioid-treatment clinics, and disaster counselors can keep operating without interruption.
- Congressional pressure, led by Rep. DeLauro, is being credited for the reversal.
- HHS has not explained why the funds were briefly yanked or what safeguard will prevent a repeat.
