04/09/2026
The FY 2027 federal budget was released on April 3rd. And it's not good for prevention.
$15.8 billion in proposed cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services. SAMHSA, the federal agency that funds substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery programs, proposed for elimination as a standalone agency.
This isn't the first time we've been here. Last year, prevention programs faced $1 billion+ in proposed SAMHSA cuts, a block grant consolidation that put the 20% prevention set-aside at serious risk, and a $2 billion grant termination that hit 2,000 organizations overnight. It was reversed within 24 hours, but the disruption to programs, staff, and the communities they serve was real.
Congress held the line in FY 2026. The fight is starting now, and the window to protect prevention is open.
If you work in prevention, serve on a coalition, or care about what happens to the young people and families in your community, then this matters.
The Commonwealth Prevention Alliance has put together a policy brief that breaks down what is at stake and what it means for the programs and funding streams that communities depend on: https://policy-field-guide.paprevention.org/
