HHS has canceled $1 billion in funding for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the New York Times reported March 26.
In addition to the canceled SAMHSA funding, the department also canceled $11.4 billion in funding to the CDC.
The canceled SAMHSA funding was distributed to states to address mental health and substance use issues, the Times reported. Brian Hepburn, executive director of the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, told the Times many states used the funding for suicide lifelines and crisis services.
The grants were expected to expire in September, Mr. Hepburn said, so few states allocated the funds to ongoing projects.
The canceled funding is part of a series of cuts at SAMHSA and HHS, as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to reduce the size of the federal government. Staffing at SAMHSA could be scaled back by 50%, the Times reported in March.
On March 27, HHS said it plans to reduce its workforce by 10,000 full-time employees, and restructure the department. Under the restructuring, SAMHSA will become part of the newly-created Administration for a Healthy America.
Transferring SAMHSA to the new agency will “break down artificial divisions between similar programs,” according to a HHS news release.
SAMHSA distributes federal grants for mental health and substance use services, and monitors behavioral health issues nationwide. The administration is part of HHS.
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