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Trump signs executive order creating 15-member addiction board with no new federal funding

Behavioral Health Business
Daily Citizen
NCDAS
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Spectrum News 1 Central New York
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RFK Jr. co-chairs panel; directs agencies to reallocate existing grant money instead of requesting new appropriations

President Trump signed the executive order on Jan. 29, 2026.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Kathryn Burgum co-chair the initiative.

The 15-member board includes Attorney General Pam Bondi, White House Drug Control Policy Director Sara Carter, and CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz.

Kennedy said addiction is a disease, not a moral failure, and called for science and compassion over silence and stigma.

The executive order does not appropriate any new federal funding for addiction treatment.

The order directs federal agencies to realign and coordinate their existing grant programs.

STAT News reported the announcement contained no promises of new funding and was light on details.

🎭Religion & Culture👷Labor

People, bills, and sources

President Donald Trump

Signed executive order

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Co-chair and public spokesperson

Kathryn Burgum

Co-chair; recovered alcoholic

Attorney General Pam Bondi

Board member

What you can do

1

Request SAMHSA annual grant allocation data to verify reallocation of funds

2

File FOIA request for Recovery Initiative board meeting minutes

3

Contact House Appropriations Committee; ask if supplemental funding planned