The Trump
administration is considering making significant cuts to the Office of National
Drug Control Policy (ONCDP) according to a preliminary budget document
and an
email message that its acting director has circulated to agency staff.
The proposed
$364 million cut would leave a budget of just $24 million for the office and
would eliminate its two major grant programs. The ONDCP is the lead White House
office shaping policy on the nation's opioid crisis, among other
responsibilities.
The
eliminations involve the high-intensity drug-trafficking area program, which
just received — under a catchall government-wide spending bill signed by
President Trump on Friday — $254 million for grants to help states and
localities to fight drug trafficking, and the $100 million drug-free
communities program, which helps local organizations battle drugs in their
communities. The programs have widespread bipartisan support among lawmakers.
"We have
a heroin and prescription drug crisis in this country and we should be
supporting efforts to reverse this tide, not proposing drastic cuts to those
who serve on the front lines of this epidemic," Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio,
said.
The proposal
insists that the Trump budget would result in a “smaller, more streamlined
organization that can more effectively address drug control issues.” The
proposal could also cut staffing for the office by 33 full-time workers,
according to the leaked email by acting drug office director Rich Baum. Such
cuts which could eliminate almost half of the staff for the office.
The document
is a preliminary White House proposal for the drug czar's office that is
subject to change before being released later this month.
"I have
been encouraged by the Administration's commitment to addressing the opioid
epidemic, and the President's personal engagement on the issue," Baum
said. "These drastic proposed cuts are frankly heartbreaking and, if
carried out, would cause us to lose many good people who contribute greatly to
ONDCP's mission and core activities."
Trump had
vowed to combat the nation’s growing opioid epidemic and in March commissioned
a new addiction task force to help combat the crisis, tapping New Jersey Gov.
Chris Christie to lead the fight. Trump's new addiction commission is to work
with local officials, law enforcement, medical professionals and addicts to
improve treatment options, prevent people from getting hooked in the first
place and stop the flow of drugs across the border.
Trump is set
to release his proposed budget for fiscal year 2018 later this month, Bloomberg
reported. Congress will get the final say on whether to accept his proposal.
AP/FOX NEWS
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