Executive Order Creating the Great American Healthcare Initiative

The Trump Administration issued a new Executive Order (EO) directing the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) to coordinate a federal government response to the substance use and addiction crisis, along with a corresponding fact sheet.

The “Great American Recovery Initiative” will be chaired by HHS Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. and Senior Advisor for Addiction & Recovery, Kathryn Burgum, and will advise federal agencies on how to integrate programs on drug prevention, early intervention, treatment, recovery support, and reentry.

The initiative is also tasked with consulting states, tribal nations, local governments, community and faith-based organizations, the private sector, and philanthropic partners to identify effective recovery strategies to ensure more Americans receive lifesaving care and support.

The EO directs Secretary Kennedy to launch an initiative to coordinate a comprehensive federal response to the addiction crisis by aligning programs across agencies, setting clear goals, and providing data-driven public updates on progress. It emphasizes increasing awareness of addiction as a disease, expanding access to treatment, and fostering a culture that supports and celebrates recovery. The Initiative will also advise federal agencies on integrating prevention, early intervention, treatment, recovery supports, and re-entry services, guide the strategic use of grants to strengthen prevention, treatment, and long-term resilience, and consult with states, tribal nations, local governments, community- and faith-based organizations, the private sector, and philanthropy to ensure more Americans receive needed care and support recovery efforts.

In alignment with this EO, RFK also announced a $100M investment in the Great American Recovery Initiative through the STREETS program, aligned with the Ending Crime and Disorder on America’s Streets executive order. The announcement reports this investment is the centerpiece of the Great American Recovery and is designed to solve long-standing homelessness issues, fight opioid addiction, and improve public safety by expanding treatment that emphasizes recovery and self-sufficiency. The STREETS initiative will fund targeted outreach, psychiatric care, medical stabilization and crisis intervention, while connecting Americans experiencing homelessness and addiction to stable housing with a clear focus on long-term recovery and independence. In addition, $10 million was announced for Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT).