Congressional Republicans who represent states hit hard by the opioid crisis are pushing back on a White House request to cut funding for a naloxone training and distribution program, saying the overdose-reversing drug saves too many lives to slash.
Trump’s proposed budget for 2026 includes a restructuring and downsizing of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the termination of many substance abuse programs, including a $56 million annual grant program that distributes naloxone doses and trains first responders on how to administer the drug, more commonly known by its brand name, Narcan.
While the president’s budget is just a suggestion for Congress — as Republican lawmakers repeatedly told NOTUS — cutting funding for naloxone programs is one recommendation some are not willing to take up.