The Trump administration’s approach to mental and behavioral health is raising alarms among experts and advocates amid ongoing crises in addiction and mental illness.
Despite some progress in reducing overdose deaths, recent federal funding cuts and restructuring threaten to undermine key programs.
In 2025, the administration halted $1 billion in school mental health grants and proposed over $1 billion more in cuts to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a critical agency for addiction and mental health care.
Critics warn these cuts could worsen symptoms for many, leading to increased homelessness, unemployment, and emergency room visits.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has reorganized SAMHSA into a new agency called the Administration for a Healthy America, aiming to improve efficiency but causing concern about lost focus on mental health services. Mental health advocates say the mass reduction in federal health workers risks reversing years of progress.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s controversial focus on autism and skepticism about psychiatric drugs adds uncertainty. His push to study environmental causes of autism has been criticized by experts as echoing disproven vaccine claims, while some of his ideas on addiction treatment, like “healing farms,” remain unproven.
The administration’s Make America Healthy Again Commission is expected soon to release an assessment on psychiatric drug use, which could signal future policy directions.
Meanwhile, President Trump has voiced support for mental health institutions and more mandated treatment for addiction, signaling a shift toward stricter care models.
While Medicaid policies under Trump have expanded access to inpatient addiction treatment in some states, disparities remain, especially where Medicaid was not expanded. The administration also promotes faith-based and peer recovery programs alongside evidence-based treatments.
Experts emphasize that mental health and addiction require comprehensive, coordinated care, including housing and social support. The success of these policies will be measured by fewer overdoses, more people receiving treatment, and improved quality of life.
As the U.S. faces a growing mental health crisis, many call for sustained federal leadership, increased funding, and policies that balance innovation with proven care to help men and all Americans live healthier lives.
