Press Release  Governor Healey Condemns President Trump's Cancellation of Millions in Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Grants 

Boston — Governor Maura Healey is condemning President Trump’s abrupt cancellation of tens of millions of dollars in grants for substance use disorder prevention and treatment, overdose prevention, mental health care, suicide prevention and more in Massachusetts. The Department of Public Health (DPH) and Department of Mental Health (DMH) received notice of more than $5 million in grant terminations from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). It is expected that tens of millions of dollars in total have been cut from state agencies and non-profits, including community health centers, in Massachusetts. The loss of this funding will have a significant and detrimental impact on work to prevent and address substance use disorder and provide mental health care across the state.

“I can't believe Donald Trump is cutting funding for mental health and addiction services. I don’t know a family in America that hasn’t been touched by one or both of these issues,” said Governor Healey. “This is callous and cruel, especially because President Trump has already cut funds for food, veterans, child care, and health care. And today he cuts funds for so many people and families who need access to mental health and addiction services. Unbelievable.”

“As a practicing physician in the field of addiction medicine and primary care, I know how important these programs are for my patients,” said Secretary of Health and Human Services Kiame Mahaniah, MD, MBA. “These programs may be what prevents a parent’s overdose or enables someone’s spouse to experience recovery or helps someone’s child cope with trauma. Beyond the loss of this considerable amount of funding – and likely, lives – what we’re losing is grace and compassion in the way we support vulnerable people in our society.”

Two Massachusetts state agencies, the Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Department of Mental Health (DMH), have received notice that more than $5 million in grants were terminated effective immediately. Numerous other non-profit health care providers, human services providers, municipalities and other organizations in Massachusetts separately run programs funded by SAMHSA grants that have also been terminated. The total impact of grant funding across Massachusetts is likely to be tens of millions of dollars across many programs and providers.

The letter from SAMHSA referenced the agency’s new strategic priorities, with the goal of, “ending harm reduction practices.” For years Massachusetts has invested in harm reduction initiatives and increased access to services, both of which directly led to a 36.3% decrease in opioid-related overdose deaths in 2024, the lowest levels since 2013.

“The complete and abrupt nature of the cancellation of these federal grants has an immediate impact on care for people with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. These grant initiatives were designed to meet specific identified needs, and it is irresponsible to abruptly terminate funding that supports services and staffing in many parts of the state,” said Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD. “The impacts are compounded by federal grant cuts to local municipalities, community health centers, and organizations forsubstance use and suicide prevention strategies in Massachusetts. Collectively, the state programs and community services are essential components of the recent successes in the reduction in overdose deaths statewide. Terminating them abruptly could have devastating, long-term negative impacts.”

“The programs funded by these grants are providing critical services to some of the most vulnerable individuals in the Commonwealth with mental health and substance use needs, including youth experiencing early psychosis,” said Department of Mental Health Acting Commissioner Beth Lucas. “These programs are highly effective in providing timely treatment that enables youth to fully experience the life of their choosing in school, work and with their families, friends and communities. Without these critical, timely interventions, youth may instead experience disconnection from these meaningful activities and experience hospitalizations, housing instability and arrests.” 

Grants awarded to EOHHS, now terminated

Psychosis Prevention Grant – $499,999 via DMH

• Supports work at four Massachusetts hospitals to provide comprehensive coordinated specialty care and outpatient treatment to adolescents and young adults who are experiencing early psychosis.

Strategic Prevention Framework for Prescription Drugs (SPF Rx) – $384,000 via DPH Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS)

• Prevents prescription drug misuse by older adults, who are particularly susceptible.

Grants to Prevent Prescription Drug/Opioid Overdose-Related Deaths (PDO) – $850,000 via DPH BSAS)

• Reduces the number of prescription drug/opioid overdose-related deaths and adverse events, including through training of first responders and distribution of naloxone to high-need communities. 

Promoting the Integration of Primary and Behavioral Health Care (PIPBHC) – $2,000,000 via DPH BSAS

• Supports adoption and improvement of integrated care models for behavioral and primary physical health. Aims to increase behavioral health screening, access to behavioral health care and substance use disorder treatment, and to improve the quality of care for undeserved individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders who are living with or at high risk for co-morbid health conditions.

MA Garrett Lee Smith State/Tribal Youth Suicide Prevention and Early Intervention Program (GLS) – $1,470,000 via DPH Bureau of Community Health and Protection (BCHAP)

• Supports the implementation of youth suicide prevention and early intervention strategies in schools, educational institutions, juvenile justice systems, substance use programs, mental health programs, foster care systems, pediatric health programs, and other child- and youth-serving organizations.

Statements from impacted organizations

Bill Yelenak, the Providers’ Council's president and CEO
"The Providers' Council, representing 220 community-based human services organizations across the Commonwealth, is deeply concerned by the abrupt termination of more than $2 billion in federal SAMHSA funding. Several of our members learned overnight that hundreds of thousands of dollars will no longer be available to fund essential programs related to mental health services, substance abuse treatment programs, children and families experiencing trauma, and more — putting some of the most vulnerable in the state at risk of losing services. These funding cuts will negatively impact individuals, families and communities across Massachusetts, and we plan to work with the Healey-Driscoll Administration and our partners at the state and national level to respond to these alarming cuts and ensure essential human services are preserved in the Commonwealth."

Michael Curry, Esq., President and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers:
“Community health centers have saved countless lives and have made immeasurable progress treating substance use disorder in our most vulnerable communities who are often last in line for lifesaving treatment and care.“The loss of these grants will undermine health centers’ ability to address this devastating epidemic and will have a direct impact on the lives of patients in every corner of the state and country.”  

Lydia Conley, President and CEO, Association for Behavioral Health:
“Providers across Massachusetts depend on SAMHSA funding to provide services to people with behavioral health needs – federal grants actually make this work possible. Our members woke up to an email from the agency telling them that all funding has been terminated as of yesterday, and that has created major chaos and will ultimately harm the people who need these services.  We are thankful for the leadership of Governor Healey who, contrary to the Trump administration’s actions, has worked zealously to protect health care access in Massachusetts.” 

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