RFK Jr. announces $700 million mental-health funding, experts say money is from existing grants

RFK Jr. announced a $700 million package aimed at mental health and addiction services, with a particular focus on addressing homelessness linked to severe, untreated mental illness.

Behavioral health experts quickly challenged the claim that the money is new, pointing out that the funds represent the release of grants that Congress had already authorized and that the federal government had planned to spend.

The delayed posting of funding notices by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has raised concerns among state officials and local treatment providers that depend on timely federal dollars.

The announcement was made during an event in Clinton, Michigan, highlighting the administration's emphasis on tackling the intersection of homelessness and addiction.