Padilla, Wyden, Colleagues Press Trump Administration Over Chaotic Decisions on Substance Abuse, Mental Health Services

Senators demand answers from HHS over abrupt termination and reinstatement of Congressionally-appropriated funds for SAMHSA services

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), co-founder of the bipartisan Senate Mental Health Caucus, and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) led 18 of their Democratic Senate colleagues in pressing the Trump Administration for answers over its recent plan to cut nearly $2 billion in federal funding for critical substance abuse and mental health services, only to reverse course on its decision one day later, causing mass chaos and confusion for patients and providers nationwide.

"Cancelling these grants would have jeopardized critical work being done on the frontlines of the opioid crisis, which directly contradicts this administration's own stated goals to tackle the opioid crisis," wrote the Senators to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. "Although HHS has since reversed course, much damage has already been done. Some staff were laid off or put on notice, services were paused, and trust between patients in need of these services and their providers has been permanently undermined. This is unacceptable, particularly during the ongoing public health emergency related to overdose and amid a nationwide mental health crisis."

"The federal government has an obligation to administer programs lawfully, transparently, and responsibly, especially when lives are at stake," continued the Senators. "While we appreciate the Department's decision to reverse the grant cancellations, that action alone does not resolve the serious concerns raised by these actions."

Last week, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) abruptly announced its plan to cancel over 2,000 active grants administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which provides key addiction and mental health treatment services with a focus on rural and underserved areas. Funding for many of these programs was just recently reauthorized by Congress on a bipartisan basis under the SUPPORT Act.

Less than a day later, HHS reversed course on its plan to cancel the grants, retaining current funding levels as appropriated by Congress. Despite this, the immediate cancellation of the grants followed by the sudden reinstatement caused mass confusion and chaos. Providers were left questioning if they had funding to continue their services, while patients were left unsure if they would continue to have access to the mental health and addiction treatment services they rely on.

The proposed grant cancellations came just months after the Administration purged critical staff working on the frontlines of America's opioid crisis under SAMHSA. Senators Padilla and Wyden slammed that decision at the time, which left SAMHSA's staff at less than 50 percent capacity.

Furthermore, the Senators emphasized that the abrupt issuance of these grant termination notices without warning, explanation, or apparent statutory basis, as was reported, would be a violation of federal grant law.

In addition to Padilla and Wyden, the letter to HHS was also signed by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).

As co-chair of the bipartisan Senate Mental Health Caucus, Senator Padilla previously condemned the Trump Administration's proposed dissolution of SAMHSA as part of HHS' restructuring plan and the White House Office of Management and Budget's HHS budget proposal. Last year, Padilla led 12 Democratic Senators in warning HHS Secretary Kennedy that additional staffing cuts at SAMHSA would have disastrous ramifications for millions of Americans struggling with mental and behavioral health challenges.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Secretary Kennedy:

We write regarding the recent decision by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to issue termination notices for more than 2,000 active grants nationwide, and subsequent reversal of those cancellations within 24 hours. While we are relieved that these terminations have reportedly been rescinded, the episode raises serious legal, operational, and governance concerns that demand explanation.

The issuance of mass, immediate termination notices for duly awarded and congressionally appropriated grants created chaos and upheaval across the nation's mental health and substance use treatment infrastructure. Community mental health centers, addiction treatment providers, overdose prevention programs, and peer recovery organizations were thrown into crisis, leaving many providers unable to meet payroll, continue services, or assure patients that life-saving care would remain accessible. For providers already operating on razor-thin margins, even a brief disruption in funding carries real and lasting consequences.

These grants support essential services, including substance use disorder treatment, medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), overdose reversal and prevention efforts, crisis response and suicide prevention, and services for pregnant and postpartum individuals. Funding for many of these programs was just recently reauthorized by Congress on a bipartisan basis under the SUPPORT Act. Furthermore, the abrupt issuance of termination notices without warning, explanation, or apparent statutory basis - as was reported - is inconsistent with federal grant law, congressional intent, and basic principles of sound administration. Cancelling these grants would have jeopardized critical work being done on the frontlines of the opioid crisis, which directly contradicts this administration's own stated goals to tackle the opioid crisis.

Although HHS has since reversed course, much damage has already been done. Some staff were laid off or put on notice, services were paused, and trust between patients in need of these services and their providers has been permanently undermined. This is unacceptable, particularly during the ongoing public health emergency related to overdose and amid a nationwide mental health crisis.

Accordingly, we request detailed responses to the following questions:

1. Given that these grants were funded with congressionally appropriated dollars and, in many cases, explicitly authorized by statute, how did the Department determine that terminating them was permissible under appropriations law?

2. Who approved the decision to issue these termination notices? Please identify the offices and senior officials involved in reviewing and authorizing this action.

3. How did SAMHSA conclude that programs supporting overdose prevention, MOUD, crisis response, and community mental health services no longer aligned with the agency's statutory mission or federal priorities?

4. Why were grantees given no advance notice, transition period, or explanation - as is required under federal law - before receiving termination letters that were effective immediately? How does this comply with federal grant management standards and due process expectations?

5. What assessment, if any, did HHS or SAMHSA conduct regarding the potential impact of these terminations on patient safety, overdose risk, suicide prevention, and community capacity before issuing the notices?

6. What prompted the Department to reverse the terminations within one day? Did the Department realize that the terminations were illegal, or did Department officials belatedly realize the harm they were inflicting?

7. What steps is HHS taking to ensure that a similar breakdown in decision-making does not occur again and that grantees are not subjected to abrupt, destabilizing actions in the future?

The federal government has an obligation to administer programs lawfully, transparently, and responsibly, especially when lives are at stake. While we appreciate the Department's decision to reverse the grant cancellations, that action alone does not resolve the serious concerns raised by these actions.

We expect prompt, complete responses to the questions above and look forward to continued oversight to ensure SAMHSA's programs are administered in accordance with the law and the intent of Congress. The nation's mental health and substance use treatment system cannot afford further disruption or uncertainty.

Sincerely,

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