WASHINGTON — President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order on Thursday, Jan. 29, to establish the White House Great American Recovery Initiative. This new federal effort will coordinate a national response to the addiction crisis, aiming to save lives and restore families.
The program seeks to make federal recovery services more effective and easier to access by creating one central office to lead the work. According to a White House fact sheet, the initiative will combine existing federal programs and services that address drug and alcohol addiction.
Leadership and Strategy
The Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Senior Advisor for Addiction Recovery will co-lead the effort. They will be responsible for:
- Organizing federal programs so they work better together.
- Advising officials on how to give out federal grants for addiction recovery.
- Giving the public progress reports on national recovery goals based on the latest data.
As part of the strategy to expand access to treatment, the administration plans to work with tribal nations, state and local governments, and religious groups.
Scale of the National Crisis
According to government data, about 48.4 million Americans—or 16.8% of the population—suffer from addiction. The crisis costs the United States hundreds of billions of dollars every year due to higher healthcare bills, rising rates of homelessness, and fewer people in the workforce.
The administration says a major challenge is that many people with addiction do not seek help. In 2024, about 40.7 million adults with an addiction did not receive treatment. Nearly all of them—95.6%—reported that they did not believe they needed professional help.
Legislative Background
This new initiative follows other federal actions targeting drug use. President Trump previously signed the HALT Fentanyl Act into law, which permanently classified drugs similar to fentanyl as Schedule I drugs. This is the most restrictive category for illegal substances.
Additionally, in 2025, the president signed the SUPPORT Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act. This law renews federal programs to reduce drug overdoses and improve mental health services across the country.
