Trump Administration Accused of Withholding $140 Million Crucial to Fentanyl Fight

The Trump administration is reportedly withholding approximately $140 million in federal grants earmarked for fentanyl overdose response efforts, a move that could severely cripple addiction programs nationwide. According to four anonymous staff members with direct knowledge at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), these delays could lead to significant layoffs and program shutdowns, jeopardizing the nation’s progress against the opioid crisis.

The funds, which represent roughly half of the congressional allocation for the critical Overdose Data To Action (OD2A) program, support fentanyl response in 49 states, Washington D.C., and numerous city, county, and territorial public health departments. CDC leadership expressed uncertainty about the future of this funding during a July 10 meeting, with officials stating, “We can’t promise all the funds will come,” according to internal notes shared with NPR.

Public health departments across the U.S. describe these funds as vital, with many already pausing new spending as the September 1 deadline for their current funding cycles looms. Experts warn that a major interruption in addiction care, similar to that seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, could reverse recent declines in overdose deaths. Dr. Chrissie Juliano, executive director of the Big Cities Health Coalition, cautioned that “Any changes to funding levels would be catastrophic and would really send us backwards.”

The funding disruption is attributed to a bureaucratic review by the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and the Office of Management and Budget. CDC staffers voiced concerns about DOGE’s lack of medical expertise in evaluating these life-saving grant programs. This potential cut comes on the heels of other moves by the Trump team, including deep cuts to Medicaid and the pending dissolution of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, raising alarms among public health advocates who fear the nation’s drug treatment safety net is being dismantled.

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