Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Barry Loudermilk (R-GA)

Washington D.C. (February 5, 2025) | Rep. Barry Loudermilk (GA-11) has released a letter, signed by the Georgia Republican Congressional Delegation, to newly confirmed Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins expressing deep concern with the VA’s failures in Georgia during the Biden Administration. They are requesting that Secretary Collins visits Georgia VA as soon as possible, to see the scale of work needed to reform the department.

In their letter, the lawmakers highlight the poor service Georgia veterans have received over the past several years, “We write to you today, frustrated with the quality of service to Georgia veterans during the previous administration. Members made multiple attempts to notify the previous administration, and the leadership of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA,) about the problems in Georgia. Those appeals were not only ignored; but the department’s leaders and allies in the previous administration actively campaigned against any positive adjustments. Your predecessor pursued avenues to circumvent the VA MISSION Act, and to keep veterans from accessing quality care.”

“We invite you to visit the Joseph Maxwell Cleland Atlanta VA Medical Center and other VA facilities in Georgia at your earliest convenience, and to address these issues. We stand ready to work with you to rectify this past refusal to improve service to our veterans, and to remove any barriers preventing veterans from pursuing the care they deserve,” the lawmakers added.

“Our nation’s brave veterans put their lives on the line to defend the freedoms we all hold dear, and they deserve the highest quality of care this country can provide. The barriers that hinder our veterans from receiving adequate care throughout the state are simply unacceptable. The VA must initiate comprehensive oversight and enhance transparency to guarantee that meaningful improvements are made promptly,” said Rep. Barry Loudermilk (GA-11). “I join my colleagues in calling for complete accountability from the VA; and implore them to act without delay. I also call upon my friend and former colleague, Secretary Collins, to visit our VA facilities in Georgia as soon as possible.”

“Our veterans deserve the best, and I trust Secretary Collins to ensure that our veterans in Georgia and beyond are properly cared for,” said Rep. Austin Scott (GA-08).

“Following the failures of the Biden Administration’s horrendous VA policy in Georgia, we are all excited for incoming VA Secretary, our former colleague and fellow Georgian, Doug Collins, to begin his work. I am excited to join Rep. Loudermilk’s letter and look forward to hosting Secretary Collins in the Peach State soon,” said Rep. Buddy Carter (GA-01).

“The Biden-Harris Administration woefully failed our veterans in the Peach State, resulting in inadequate service, extended wait times, and insufficient access to community care. I’m confident that VA Secretary Collins is equipped with the experience and leadership needed to address these challenges, and I look forward to working with him to ensure our veterans receive the quality care and support that they deserve,” said Rep. Andrew Clyde (GA-09).

“It’s no secret that the Biden administration purposely restricted community care options for America’s veterans by subverting the VA MISSION Act. Doug Collins understands that without these options, our nation’s heroes become trapped in a bureaucratic sea of red tape that does not always work for them,” said Rep. Mike Collins (GA-10). “With 700,000 veterans in our home state of Georgia, I’m proud that Doug Collins has been confirmed as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and I know that he will ensure that our veterans have access to care they need.”

“The Biden Administration failed Georgia’s veterans by ignoring consistent calls for improvements and sidestepping requirements to improve access to quality care. As we begin a new era at the Department of Veterans Affairs, I am confident that Doug Collins will usher in the accountability and reforms needed to ensure our veterans are properly cared for after their service. Secretary Collins certainly has an open invitation to visit the 12th District of Georgia and our VA hospitals in Augusta and Dublin,” said Rep. Rick Allen (GA-12).

Click here to read the full letter.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Barry Loudermilk (R-GA)

Washington D.C. (January 23, 2025) | Rep. Barry Loudermilk (GA-11) issued the following statement after he reintroduced the Modern Employment Reform, Improvement, and Transformation (MERIT) Act to hold inefficient, corrupt government bureaucrats accountable in the 119^th Congress.

“Over the past four years most Americans feared the federal government and its ability to unjustly wield power, and have become tired of funding the fraud, waste, and abuse within our bloated federal bureaucracy. With President Trump back in office, and the passage of my MERIT Act, Americans will have a government they can be proud of again, not one they fear and distrust. We will return our government to one that works for the people, not one that works for self-interests or political agendas. The reforming of the federal government must begin with a dedicated, efficient, and committed workforce, which is why the MERIT Act is an essential step in fixing our broken system.

“Our federal employment system should reward hard work and dedication; however, the current federal employment code protects poor performers and corruption. I have been diligently working on this bill for several years, and now is the time to reform our outdated system. MERIT would create a more efficient and effective government that works for the benefit of the American people. It would restructure the federal employment code by modeling employee dismissal with that of the private sector, and lessen the time it takes to root out misconduct and poor performers.

“I am encouraged that the mission of President Trump, Elon Musk, and the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) will complement MERIT, and I look forward to working with them and my colleagues to get it passed in the U.S. House.”

Rep. Buddy Carter (GA-1) stated, “President Trump has been sent to Washington with a mandate from the American people to shake up Washington, and this bill makes good on that promise. I am proud to be joining my colleague, Rep. Loudermilk, in advancing the MERIT Act, which will ensure that inefficient, corrupt government bureaucrats are held accountable.”

“Our federal workforce has been slow and bloated for far too long,” said Rep. Mike Collins (GA-10). “The MERIT Act is a step in the right direction to give the American taxpayers the effective and efficient government workforce that they deserve.”

“Hardworking Americans deserve a government that puts service and results first, not one that protects inefficiency and misconduct. The MERIT Act ensures that federal employees are held to the same high standards as those in the private sector. I’m proud to support this commonsense legislation that prioritizes taxpayers, promotes excellence, and strengthens trust in our institutions,” said Rep. Erin Houchin (IN-9).

“America’s federal workforce must serve the people—not the bureaucracy. The MERIT Act builds on President Trump’s America First agenda by cutting government waste, fraud, and abuse, rooting out misconduct, and holding federal workers to the highest standards. House Republicans will continue to deliver a government that works as hard as the American people—one they can trust to fight for them every single day,” said Rep. Burgess Owens (UT-4).

“Far too many corrupt bureaucrats remain unaccountable,” said Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (FL-13). “This inefficiency in government career positions cannot be tolerated. Federal employees must uphold the highest standards of integrity to ensure accountability to the American people. Americans deserve a government that works for them, not against them. Rep. Loudermilk’s MERIT Act is the solution to overhaul the system and end the unchecked misconduct that has undermined the public’s trust.”

“As we work with President Trump to usher in a new Golden Age in America, we must ensure our federal workforce serves with integrity and reflects the highest values of public service. I’m happy to cosponsor the MERIT Act to hold federal employees to a higher standard and make it easier for agency managers to hold workers accountable,” said Rep. Scott Franklin (FL-18).

“Negligent federal employees who push a political agenda and disregard the will of the American people have been given power for too long. Hardworking Americans’ tax dollars should not be spent on poor-performing federal employees who lack accountability. The MERIT Act is a necessary bill that begins to correct a deeply rooted problem in the federal government and returns to agencies the efficiency and integrity they have been missing,” said Heritage Action Executive Vice President Ryan Walker.

“Taxpayers deserve to have outstanding public servants staffing all levels of government. Representative Loudermilk’s MERIT Act is not only prescient but necessary to ensure that the federal government has the flexibility it needs to most effectively staff its workforce and give hard-working Americans confidence that their tax dollars are being properly stewarded and deployed. We applaud Rep. Loudermilk for his effort to restore accountability and transparency to our government,” said Austen Bannan, Employment Policy Fellow, Americans for Prosperity.

“AMAC Action is proud to support the MERIT Act which represents a crucial step towards creating a more efficient and accountable federal workforce. By streamlining the process for addressing poor performance and misconduct, this legislation holds federal bureaucrats accountable. These improvements will ensure that government services are delivered with integrity to America’s seniors who have worked hard and paid taxes their entire lives,” said Rebecca Weber, Chairwoman, AMAC Action.

MERIT ACT Summary:

• Addressing misconduct and poor performance: The MERIT Act repeals the Chapter 43 special process for action against poor performers and bad actors, which is unnecessarily time-consuming, and streamlines the Chapter 75 process for removal or suspension of employees and supervisors.
• Poor Performing Senior Executives:​The MERIT Act permits agencies to remove a senior executive from the civil service for performance reasons, rather than merely demoting the individual to a non-Senior Executive Service (SES) position.
• Recoupment of bonuses and awards: The MERIT Act authorizes agencies to order recoupment of bonuses and awards when performance or conduct issues are discovered and it is determined the bonus or award would not have been paid had these issues been known at the time.
• Felonious service: The MERIT Act affects the retirement benefits of employees who are removed based on a felony conviction for actions taken in furtherance of official duties. The period of service during which the felonious activities occurred will be eliminated for purposes of any annuity computation.

Original co-sponsors include: Reps. Buddy Carter (GA-1), Erin Houchin (IN-9), Rick Crawford (AR-1), Burgess Owens (UT-4), Mike Collins (GA-10), Anna Paulina Luna (FL-13), Dan Webster (FL-11), Tracy Mann (KS-1), Scott Franklin (FL-18), Dan Meuser (PA-9), Brian Babin (TX-36), Claudia Tenney (NY-24), Jim Baird (IN-4), Greg Steube (FL-17), and Tim Burchett (TN-2).

Click here for a one-page summary and here for the full bill text of the Modern Employment Reform, Improvement, and Transformation (MERIT) Act.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Barry Loudermilk (R-GA)

Washington D.C. (December 13, 2024) | Rep. Barry Loudermilk (GA-11), a U.S. Air Force veteran who served in communications and intelligence, voted for the final negotiated language for H.R. 5009, the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY25. This legislation authorizes funding levels for U.S. defense programs and sets key Department of Defense policies. The defense authorization bill passed the House by a vote of 281-140.

“With wars raging in Israel and Ukraine, chaos in Syria, an emboldened Iran, and the growing threat of Communist China, America’s national security depends on the critical need to restore strength in our military and ensure it is well equipped with all the tools it needs to protect our nation. Although not perfect, the NDAA we passed takes steps toward accomplishing that mission. This critical legislation makes vital investments to deter Russian and Chinese aggression, defend our ally Israel, boost our war fighting capabilities, and diminish some of the woke agenda infused in our military in recent years.

“The FY25 NDAA also makes necessary improvements to service member quality of life, provides our troops with needed pay-increases, and secures critical funding for Dobbins Air Reserve Base. I urge the Senate to pass this legislation, and President Biden to sign it without delay.”

Overall House FY25 NDAA Highlights

Georgia’s 11^th Congressional District 

• Authorizes funding at $78 million for the Army Reserve Center at Dobbins Air Reserve Base (ARB).
• Rejects the outgoing Biden Administration’s request to divest certain aircraft, including the F-22 fighters, F-15E fighters, C-130 cargo, KC-135 tanker, E-3 airborne warning, and RQ-4 reconnaissance aircraft to ensure continued air superiority in the near-term
  • Increased C-130 procurement – particularly of C-130Js is critical to strengthening our national security.

• • • Every aircraft made represents the hard work of 3,200 Georgians at Lockheed Martin’s Marietta facility in GA-11.

Military Service Members and Families

• Provides a 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted servicemembers and supports a 4.5% pay raise for Georgia’s 89,900 servicemembers.
• Authorizes funding to build new housing and improve existing housing.
• Expands programs to help Georgia’s 29,300 military spouses attain and retain employment.
• Expands access to childcare for the 47,900 children of military families in Georgia.

Healthcare

• Provides servicemembers with direct access to specialty medical providers by waiving the TRICARE referral requirement.
• Expands the number of doctors working for DoD by extending recruitment bonuses and providing for increased compensation.
• Increases the number of nurses working for DoD by waiving prior federal service hiring requirements.
• Requires DoD to report to Congress on access to care data for all healthcare services to determine where gaps exist.

Ending Wokeness in the Military

• Prohibits funding for the teaching, training, and promotion of Critical Race Theory (CRT) in the military, including at service academies and DoD schools.
• Extends the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) hiring freeze, preventing DoD from establishing any new positions or filing of any DEI positions until GAO completes an investigation of the Pentagon’s DEI programs.
• Prohibits DoD from contracting with advertising firms like NewsGuard that blacklist conservative news sources.
• Permanently bans DoD from providing minors with gender dysphoria medical treatments, like hormones and puberty blockers that could result in sterilization.

Foreign Policy and National Security

• Authorizes $15.6 billion, $5.7 billion more than requested for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative to enhance U.S. deterrence and defense posture in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Establishes the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative to provide the military and security forces of Taiwan with lethal assistance to enable Taiwan to maintain self-defense capabilities.
• Authorizes full funding for joint U.S.-Israel cooperative missile defense programs (Iron Dome, Arrow, David Sling).
• Requires U.S. Central Command to engage in joint anti-tunnelling exercises with Israel Defense Forces.

Oversight and Accountability 

• Requires DoD to promptly notify Congress whenever the Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) is unable to perform the functions and duties of the office and transfer them to the deputy secretary or other individual.
• Imposes congressional oversight on any plans to reduce the size of the US Navy fleet.
• Fences funding for the SECDEF until DoD provides Congress with several required reports.

Securing America’s borders 

• Fully supports the deployment of National Guard troops to augment Customs and Border Protection (CBP) activities at the southwest border.
• Authorizes $90 million for construction of a new Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-S) Command and Control Facility to detect and interdict illegal migrants and narcotics.
• Increases funding by $10 million for DoD counternarcotics activities.

BACKGROUND:This legislation is based on two bills (1) H.R. 8070, the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement Act for Fiscal Yar 2025, which Rep. Loudermilk supported, and passed the House on June 14, 2024; and (2) S.4638, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Yar 2025, which was approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee on June 13, 2024.

The bills are the product of bicameral and bipartisan negotiations led by House and Senate Armed Services Committee leaders and will be sent back to Senate for consideration before going to President Biden for signature.

For more information on the FY25 NDAA, click here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Barry Loudermilk (R-GA)

Washington D.C. (December 13, 2024) | Rep. Barry Loudermilk (GA-11) released the following statement announcing the winners of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge for Georgia’s 11^th Congressional District. The competition is designed for students who aspire to learn computer coding and may have an interest in the STEM fields. North Cobb Christian School students, Kameron Fournillier, Jason Osborn, Nathan Stinson, and Jade Zebrowski won FIRST Place for their CTrack app.

“As a U.S. Air Force veteran who served in communications and intelligence, and owner of an IT services business for over twenty years, I know it is crucial that the next generation is well-equipped with the skills necessary to protect our nation from cyberthreats. Events like the Congressional App Challenge are an excellent way to spark curiosity in computer science and cybersecurity and encourage younger generations to advance their education and pursue careers in these critically important fields. The talent of the students of Georgia’s 11^th Congressional District continues to inspire me, and makes me proud for the future of our country. I appreciate all who participated in this challenge, and congratulate our winners.”

The Congressional App Challenge is a nonpartisan Initiative that encourages students’ interest in computer science, coding, or careers in STEM fields. Established in 2013 as a result of the Academic Competition Resolution passed by Congress, it has increased Congressional dialogue on the subjects of computer science and coding by about two thousand percent. Students can compete individually or in groups of up to four, and are tasked with designing an application (app) of their choosing. Each winning app is featured in the U.S. Capitol, and on the House of Representatives official website (House.gov), which has ten million visitors per year.

11^th Congressional District – 2024 Congressional App Challenge Winners:

1st Place 

Kameron Fournillier, Jason Osborn, Nathan Stinson, and Jade Zebrowski

App: CTrack

School: North Cobb Christian School; teacher: Ms. Long

2nd Place 

Aiden Gilmore, David Wu, Sam Tucker, and Ethan Konnick

App: PlatePulse

School: Mount Paran Christian School

3rd Place 

Miranda Soto and Spencer Horton

App: Managing SHS

School: Barber Middle School; teacher: Saundra Watts

Honorable Mention 

Eugene Kang, Lilah Anderson, Daniel Kunz, and Zachary Pasanen

App: InterIntra

School: Harrison High School

APP BACKGROUNDS

CTrack

Aims to help individuals struggling with keeping up with their monthly expenses. The app allows users to evaluate their budgetary needs and view stock predictions.

PlatePulse

A license plate detection and scanning app that uses a camera feed to scan for license plates. When there is a license plate detected, it runs OCR text recognition software, logs the license plate and time of detection automatically into a Google sheet.

Managing SHS

Designed to help students balance their many responsibilities and commitments in school, clubs, and sports. While many students struggle with managing their time effectively, this app aims to alleviate that challenge by providing a user-friendly platform that organizes various tasks and events efficiently.

InterIntra

At its core, this app uses Sam, a virtual therapist powered by advanced artificial intelligence using OpenAI’s Chat GPT. Users engage in conversations with Sam via a chat interface, simulating real-life social interactions in a safe and supportive environment.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dwight Evans (2nd District of Pennsylvania)

Navigators help Americans in red, purple & blue states find affordable coverage, including Medicaid which Trump promised not to touch

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dwight Evans (2nd District of Pennsylvania)

WASHINGTON (March 11, 2025) – Congressman Dwight Evans (D-PA-3) announced he will vote “No” on a House Republican funding bill that fails to stop or reverse recent mass firings and funding freezes. 

“Elon Musk and Donald Trump have been ignoring funding laws already passed by Congress – and now they want Congress to give them more money through a new law with no safeguards against what they’ve been doing? The Musk-Trump mass firings and funding freezes have already been creating partial government shutdowns. That is what I want to stop,” Evans said. 

“Democrats are in the minority in both the House and Senate, but we are fighting for protections for the American people against more law-breaking by Musk and Trump. Republicans control the White House, Senate and House – if there is a wider government shutdown than Musk and Trump have already imposed, it’ll be Republicans’ doing.” 

“If this partisan bill goes down, we can have real negotiations and a chance to protect services and benefits the American people count on. This is even more important now that Musk has made threatening comments about an EARNED benefit, Social Security.”

Evans noted reporting that Trump administration officials have told House Republicans they will also ignore parts of the new funding bill if it becomes law.

“Under the Constitution, which was signed in Philadelphia, Congress has the power of the purse. No president – of any party – is a king. When the law says they have to release the funding, that’s it.” 

Evans represents the 3rd Congressional District, which includes Northwest and West Philadelphia and parts of North, South, Southwest and Center City Philadelphia. He recently announced that his office returned to or saved $4.5 million for constituents in 2024 in cases involving federal agencies such as the IRS, Social Security Administration and Department of Veterans Affairs. The 2024 figure brings Evans’ office’s total to more than $45.5 million returned to or saved for constituents during his first eight years in Congress.

Evans serves on the influential House Ways and Means Committee, including its Subcommittee on Health. In addition to taxes, the committee also oversees trade, Social Security and Medicare. Evans’ website is evans.house.gov and his social media handle is @RepDwightEvans on Youtube, Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dwight Evans (2nd District of Pennsylvania)

PHILADELPHIA (Feb. 27, 2025) – Congressman Dwight Evans (D-PA-3rd) will host a telephone town hall on Saturday, March 8, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. He’ll be joined by guest speakers to help update Philadelphians on what’s happening with efforts to fight Trump administration actions, including some successes in the courts.

Residents of the 3rd Congressional District can sign up to be called by visiting evans.house.gov/live. They can also join the call when it takes place by calling 888-480-3686.

Evans said Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings and a representative from the ACLU will be among the guest speakers, providing updates on lawsuits that their organizations are involved with.

“We may have additional guest speakers – follow me on social media @RepDwightEvans or sign up for my free e-mail newsletter at evans.house.gov/contact/newsletter to receive updates,” Evans said. 

Evans represents the 3rd Congressional District, which includes Northwest and West Philadelphia and parts of North, South, Southwest and Center City Philadelphia. He serves on the influential House Ways and Means Committee, including its Subcommittee on Health. In addition to taxes, the committee also oversees trade, Social Security and Medicare. Evans’ website is evans.house.gov and his social media handle is @RepDwightEvans on Youtube, Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dwight Evans (2nd District of Pennsylvania)

The main thing last night’s vote “unlocked” is $880 BILLION in cuts to Medicaid. 

1 in 4 Pennsylvanians rely on this critical health care coverage and I’m proud all PA Democrats voted NO on this legislation. Learn more about the local impacts of the GOP’s harmful budget scheme here: https://democrats-budget.house.gov/legislation/republican-rip-off

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Follow Congressman Evans’ across all platforms @RepDwightEvans:

YouTube | Bluesky | Facebook | Twitter/X | Instagram | Threads 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dwight Evans (2nd District of Pennsylvania)

$4.5 million returned to or saved for constituents in 2024; $13.3 million in federal funding secured for 15 Philly community projects

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Paul Tonko (Capital Region New York)

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY-20) and Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-6) led a letter calling upon Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy to halt reckless staffing cuts at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). SAMHSA serves millions of Americans across the nation who struggle with mental health challenges and substance use disorder.

Joined by more than 50 of their colleagues, the letter expresses grave concerns at reports that staffing reductions of up to 50 to 70 percent of SAMHSA’s staff are being considered and that the agency has already lost 1 out of 10 employees, including several responsible for the operation of the 988 National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. 

“Cutting SAMHSA employees without understanding the impact is extremely dangerous given the behavioral health crises impacting every corner of our nation,” Tonko and his colleagues write. “Too many people across the country are suffering without necessary resources. We must ensure that SAMHSA staff are there to ensure those lifesaving resources reach our communities.” 

Tonko Co-Chairs the Addiction, Treatment, and Recovery Caucus and has led efforts for many years to expand access to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and mental health services. 

Earlier today, Reps. Tonko and Salinas, who Co-Chairs the Mental Health Caucus, held a virtual press conference with ten former SAMHSA employees who have been fired as a result of cuts from this administration. Participants spoke about the detrimental impact that these cuts will have on addressing mental health, and ensuring access to substance use disorder treatment, services, prevention and recovery. 

The full letter can be read HERE and below:

March 6, 2025

The Honorable Robert F. Kennedy
Secretary
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20201

Dear Secretary Kennedy,

We are deeply concerned by the Department of Government Efficiency’s (“DOGE”) reckless staff reductions at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). SAMHSA staff work in supporting our shared mental health and addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery priorities. Recent reporting notes that the agency lost 1 out of 10 of its staff, including team members responsible for the operation of the 988 National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

It has also come to our attention that almost all staff located in Regions Four and Five have been terminated. Currently, the SAMHSA website no longer lists the staff contacts for those regions. Even more concerning, we are told that additional reductions of up to 50 to 70 percent of SAMHSA’s staff are under consideration. Cutting SAMHSA employees without understanding the impact is extremely dangerous given the behavioral health crises impacting every corner of our nation.

From October of 2023 to September of 2024, overdose deaths in the United States decreased by nearly 24 percent after trending upward for nearly two decades. SAMHSA staff have been instrumental in supporting this decline in deaths. SAMHSA staff have worked to increase access to the life-saving drug naloxone and have helped promote evidence-based treatment for both mental health and substance use disorder treatment. They also ensure that addiction treatment is safe and available by ensuring that Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs) comply with federal regulations. There are at least 1,500 of these opioid treatment programs across the country who are relying on this support. Without adequate staff at SAMHSA, OTPs cannot operate, and patients will not receive addictions medications, counseling and other behavioral health services. SAMHSA staff certify mobile medication units which are critical in increasing access to medications for opioid use disorders especially in rural areas. Without SAMHSA staff, these mobile medication units won’t be deployed in our communities.

SAMHSA staff also support providers with the most updated evidence-based practices to treat patients. SAMHSA staff at the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) work with states to administer the Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services (SUPTRS) Block Grant which helped serve over 2.5 million people with lifesaving substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery services. SAMHSA staff in the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) have worked to ensure that states and communities have access to the most up to date, evidence-based prevention strategies, which have resulted in among the lowest rates of non-use of any substance among middle and high school students ever recorded by the Monitoring the Future Study.

From 2002 to 2022, suicide deaths in the United States generally increased; with a tragic spike in the post-pandemic years after briefly trending down from 2018 to 2020. In 2023, over 49,000 Americans died by suicide. Given these statistics and the current mental health crisis, we are deeply concerned by reports that nearly 25 percent of the team working on 988 awareness campaigns have been cut. As of January 2025, 988 has fielded an astounding 14 million calls, texts, and chats while the Veteran’s Crisis Line (VCL) has routed nearly 2 million contacts since July 2022.

SAMHSA staff at the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) also work with states to manage the Mental Health Block Grant (MHBG) which helped serve approximately 2 million individuals with serious mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbances. SAMHSA staff oversee technical assistance centers that ensure that providers across the U.S. know how to best treat and support those with mental health and substance use disorders, ranging from eating disorders to schizophrenia to alcohol addiction. Without this support for the workforce, individuals seeking treatment may not receive the most effective, evidence-based care, potentially leading to poorer health outcomes, increased relapse rates, and greater strain on healthcare systems. A fully staffed SAMHSA is essential to continued success.

Given the effects that HHS and DOGE’s actions are expected to have on the agency’s mission and operations, we ask that you provide the following information by March 10, 2025:

1. A list of employees who have been terminated since January 20, 2025, including a copy of SAMHSA and DOGE’s charts and other documents reflecting staff reduction plans by program office and further disaggregated by field office and DC headquarters.
2. A specific line-item by line-item analysis of the impact of SAMHSA staffing reductions in the 50 percent range. Please produce any written communications including texts, emails, memorandums, white papers and other documents indicating whether the intent of the proposed staffing reductions is to shut down SAMHSA programs by eliminating the staff needed to administer them.
3. A detailed list of the types of employees terminated (schedule a, veterans, disabled veterans, military spouses, etc.).
4. A detailed analysis of the impact on the Veteran’s Crisis Line from 988 funding cuts.

We strongly urge you to reconsider these cuts and stop any further cuts before fully informing Congress of any impacts to overdoses, suicides, and access to mental and behavioral health treatment. Too many people across the country are suffering without necessary resources. We must ensure that SAMHSA staff are there to ensure those lifesaving resources reach our communities. Please respond to this letter by March 10, 2025. We appreciate your prompt attention.