Addiction Recovery Chaos

Critical Program in Ruins

Because it’s instructive of my usual topical area, let me tell you about my daughter’s recent experience, which is a perfect example of the mess we’re in. She works for a program dedicated to treating and preventing substance abuse—a noble effort that combines their own staff with federal oversight. The program was objectively and demonstrably successful, so much so that two federal employees were added to oversee the growth. Then, out of nowhere, after just under a year of improvements to the program, they got fired. No warning, no reason tied to their performance—just gone. It didn’t just cost them their jobs; it brought my daughter’s whole performant operation to a state of disarray. Her team’s productivity tanked, and the people who relied on that program—those battling addiction or trying to stay clear of it—were left hanging. It’s heartbreaking to see something so vital derailed by such a thoughtless move.

Now, let’s talk about why this happened, because it’s not just a one-off—it’s part of a pattern with Trump’s irrational, clueless approach to cutting government, much like his tariff fiasco. Those tariffs he recently slapped on—10% on most imports, with 25% on goods from Canada and Mexico and up to 100% on Chinese products—are a blunt instrument, just like these cuts. Economists, like those cited by the Tax Foundation on April 7, warned tariffs could ignite a trade war (China’s retaliated with counter-tariffs, and Canada and Mexico are threatening the same) and drive up consumer prices by 2-3%, hitting working families hardest. It’s the same reckless logic here: swing a sledgehammer and call it progress. The feds overseeing my daughter’s program weren’t dead weight; they were essential — managing grants that funded crisis response and addiction treatment—but Trump’s team axed them anyway, no plan, no replacement. Even if you buy the idea of trimming government fat, this isn’t how you do it. NPR reported on March 27 that $12.4 billion in health grants got yanked, including $1 billion from addiction and mental health services, part of a broader effort to claw back COVID-era funds. That’s not efficiency; that’s sabotage, and it’s hurting real people, like those my daughter was trying to help.

Recent reports confirm the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) budget faces proposals to be zeroed out entirely for 2026.What makes this worse is the cowardice of the federal managers who should be screaming about this—or walking away. Back in the day, you’d see resignations over bad policy. Now, they’re just taking it. SAMHSA’s staff has been gutted, with up to 50% cuts, including the entire team behind the National Survey of Drug Use and Health, critical for tracking addiction trends. Barely a peep from leadership. In my daughter’s case, those federal overseers didn’t fight for the program they helped build—they just let it collapse. Compare that to the guts it takes to stand up to Trump’s chaos, whether its tariffs threatening the economy or cuts gutting health programs. The silence from federal managers is deafening. It’s left my daughter’s work—and the lives it touched—in limbo, proving that Trump’s sloppy execution, even if you grant his logic, is doing damage we can’t afford