Earlier this week, the Trump administration announced it would be cutting more than $5 million in funding for five behavioral health and suicide prevention programs in Illinois.
The Illinois Department of Human Services announced the cuts in a recent press release, noting the potentially severe impacts on statewide mental health services.
But by Wednesday, outlets including CBS and NBC reported that the administration had reversed $2 billion in nationwide mental health and substance abuse cuts following public pressure.
Here’s what we know.
Which Illinois grants were cut?
The federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced it would terminate the following federal grants distributed by Illinois agencies, according to the release:
The five grants total over $5.94 million in funding.
Which Illinois programs would be affected?
The grants fund youth suicide prevention efforts, a statewide mental health resource center, suicide prevention efforts in high-risk sectors of Chicago and substance use and overdose prevention efforts, among other services.
When would Trump cuts have taken effect?
The cuts to all five grants were intended to take effect Wednesday, Jan. 13, according to the release.
Pritzker labels the cuts ‘abject cruelty’
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker criticized the federal cuts, calling them “nothing short of abject cruelty.”
He continued to say, “While Trump pretends to care about MAHA and keeping Americans healthy and safe, he’s shamelessly pulling the plug on programs that improve Americans’ mental health, prevent suicide and help our most vulnerable. If Trump truly wanted to reduce crime and make our cities safer, he wouldn’t rip resources away from people struggling.”
The governor similarly criticized the “shameful” cuts on X, saying, “Illinois is fighting for the support our people deserve.”
Trump administration appears to reverse national cuts
An administration official reportedly told NBC News $2 billion in federal funds for mental health and substance abuse programs would be reinstated following previously announced cuts.
The Department of Health and Human Services reportedly announced the reversal Wednesday, one day after the cuts were announced.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, attributed the reversal to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. having “bowed to public pressure” and “national outrage.”
Neither the IDHS nor SAMHSA have released statements on reported funding reinstatements.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: HHS cuts $5 million in Illinois mental health funding. But is it back?
Reporting by Hannah Hudnall, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
