Layoffs Hit Colorado Programs for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Colorado lawmaker Pettersen expressed concerns about Trump's staffing cuts to programs that help Coloradans deal with mental health and drug problems.
Hundreds of federal employees, including those working on disaster preparedness and disease outbreaks, were affected by mass firings at the Department of Health and Human Services.
- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) was also impacted, with approximately 100 employees laid off.
"We finally were moving in the right direction with the first year, we started to see a reduction in overdose deaths last year," said Seventh District Rep. "Now they're dismantling the very systems that have helped support people to get the treatment that they need.
This comes as Congress is in a deadlock over a government shutdown, with Republicans and Democrats unable to reach an agreement.
Author's summary: Layoffs affect Colorado substance abuse and mental health services.