WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Don Beyer (VA-08), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), and Andrea Salinas (OR-06) called on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to immediately reinstate illegally fired staff at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and provide information about the impacts of departmental reorganization and reductions in force (RIFs) on SAMHSA and its operations.
In their letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the lawmakers underscored the fact that these actions — which have reduced SAMHSA’s staff by more than half since the start of the Trump administration — run contrary to bipartisan congressional intent and undermine the nation’s response to the mental health and substance use disorder crisis. Respectively, these lawmakers each serve as leaders in either the Addiction, Treatment, and Recovery (ATR) Caucus, the Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force, or the Mental Health Caucus.
“As longtime champions of access to mental health and Substance Use Disorder treatment and resources,” the lawmakers wrote, “we are writing in response to the disturbing news that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) arbitrarily and illegally fired over 100 additional employees at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Reports indicate that the latest round of firings devastatingly reduce the number of staff at SAMHSA to less than 50 percent of staff left since the start of the Trump administration. These cuts fly in the face of everything Congress has worked on to prioritize the focus on mental health and substance use disorder, to reduce stigma, and to expand access to prevention, recovery, and treatment.”
The lawmakers emphasized that previous firings in April have already deeply impacted SAMHSA’s operations. They warned that at a time when the overdose and mental health crisis continues to impact communities across the nation, this latest round of reductions in force will have a devastating impact on millions of Americans seeking treatment and resources to help them overcome this disease.
“We already were truly alarmed by the initial firings made in April of 2025, where SAMHSA lost 10 percent of its staff,” the lawmakers continued. “As you well know, we are currently in the midst of a nationwide overdose and mental health crisis; one that has impacted every community in some form.Addressing mental health and substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery is a bipartisan priority and now is not the time to make more heinous cuts to SAMHSA. The work of SAMHSA is not a partisan priority. It should be a priority for every American, every member of Congress, and every Administration.”
The lawmakers also highlighted reports that the Trump administration plans to end SAMHSA’s status as an independent agency, instead folding its operations under the heading of the so-called “Administration for a Healthy America” (AHA).
“We are concerned by reports that the Administration is taking steps to stop SAMHSA from serving its statutorily approved role as an independent agency…” the lawmakers wrote. “Let’s not forget that the whole reason Congress moved SAMHSA into an independent agency was to ensure that mental health and substance use disorder treatment was prioritized despite the longstanding stigma. Protecting SAMHSA and mental health and substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery funding is essential to ensuring that millions of Americans continue to have access to critical mental health and substance use services.”
Rep. Madeleine Dean is a mother, grandmother, attorney, professor, former four-term member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and U.S. Representative for the Fourth District of Pennsylvania.
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