Trump Administration Lays Off Over 100 at Mental Health Agency Amid Shutdown
The Trump administration laid off more than 100 employees at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) yesterday, as the government shutdown continues, raising concerns about the nation’s mental health safety net.
Current and former SAMHSA employees reported the “Reduction in Force” notices were delivered shortly before 8 p.m. ET on Friday, with administration officials offering no explanation for the cuts. “I think the general feeling today is shock — and not understanding why?” one source within the agency told NPR. Estimates place the total number of employees affected around 125, bringing the agency’s staffing levels down to nearly half of its original 900 employees since the start of the administration. SAMHSA oversees the vital 988 suicide prevention hotline and distributes billions in grants for mental health and addiction services.
The Department of Health and Human Services confirmed the cuts, attributing them to the ongoing Democrat-led government shutdown. “HHS employees across multiple divisions are receiving reduction-in-force notices as a direct consequence of the Democrat-led government shutdown,” said Andrew Nixon, the department’s director of communications. These cuts come despite warnings that SAMHSA funding is “the backbone of behavioral health in this country,” according to psychologist Rachel Winograd at the University of Missouri-Saint Louis. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that nearly one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also experienced layoffs Friday, though some were reportedly reversed after initial notices were sent. One CDC official, prior to their firing being revoked, stated the cuts targeted offices responsible for disease surveillance, outbreak forecasting, and immunization. HHS indicated further cuts may occur as it continues to “close wasteful and duplicative entities” aligned with the administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda.
Officials stated HHS continues to assess staffing needs and will provide updates as the shutdown continues.
