On January 13, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) implemented a late-night termination, effective that day, of more than two billion dollars in mental health and substance abuse funding previously authorized by Congress. A form letter was sent to approximately 2800 addiction and mental health programs with the title “notice of termination”. The notice was received by agencies, like court administered treatment programs, across the United States, including Tennessee. The action was a complete surprise to the entities and courts administering the programs. Some began shut-down efforts immediately.

Programs impacted were recovery, behavioral and drug courts dealing with mental health and substance abuse issues like those found in many impaired driving cases. These target addiction, homelessness and workforce development in addition to addressing drug and alcohol misuse.

The HHS notices stated that the funding was being cut immediately due to “non-alignment with SAMSHA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration) priorities”. It is widely reported that HHS has fired staff as a part of efforts to reorganize the agency under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s plan to deemphasize the prevention of drug-related harm.

The next day, a Trump Administration official said that the funds were being restored. No further explanation was given. However, backlash to the sudden termination notice was significant. The legal basis for the termination of Congressionally mandated expenditures is uncertain.

Tennessee courts that depend on these and like funds to provide alternatives to incarceration should exercise caution in making long term financial and operational commitments.