Overview
- Roughly 2,000 discretionary grants totaling about $2 billion were initially terminated this week, with letters citing awards that no longer effectuate program goals or agency priorities and signed by acting leader Christopher Carroll.
- An administration official confirmed the reversal to NPR, with grantees told Thursday morning that terminations were rescinded after a day of uncertainty.
- Some programs appeared unaffected throughout, including the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, and State Opioid Response funding.
- Providers reported immediate layoffs, canceled trainings, and service disruptions before the reinstatement; several are now working to rehire and restart operations.
- Confusion persisted as duplicate or erroneous overnight emails reiterated cuts before the rescission notices, while lawmakers from both parties demanded explanations and oversight of the decision process under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.