Gabe Evans Was Silent As The Trump Administration Pardoned Convicted Drug Traffickers And Gutted Funding For Crucial Substance Abuse Disorder Programs

Trump Pardoned Juan Orlando Hernández, The Former President Of Honduras Who Helped Smuggle At Least 400 Tons Of Cocaine Into The United States

December 2025: Donald Trump Pardoned Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, Who Was Convicted Of Helping Smuggle Cocaine Into The United States. “Former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández, convicted by a U.S. court last year on charges that he ran the Central American nation as a ‘narco-state’ that helped send South American cocaine to the United States, has been released from federal prison after receiving a ‘full and unconditional’ pardon from President Donald Trump.” [Washington Post, 12/2/25]

Washington Post: Prosecutors Said Hernández “Built His Political Career On Millions Of Dollars In Bribes From Traffickers In Honduras And Mexico, And As President Helped To Move At Least 400 Tons Of Cocaine To The United States.” “Hernández, who was president of Honduras from 2014 to 2022, was serving 45 years in prison on importation and weapons charges. U.S. prosecutors said he built his political career on millions of dollars in bribes from traffickers in Honduras and Mexico, and as president helped to move at least 400 tons of cocaine to the United States while protecting traffickers from extradition and prosecution.” [Washington Post, 12/2/25]

Federal Prosecutors Said Hernández Aided Drug Traffickers By Protecting Them From Extradition And Prosecution

Federal Prosecutors Said Hernández Aided Drug Traffickers By Protecting Them From Extradition And Prosecution. “Hernández, who was president of Honduras from 2014 to 2022, was serving 45 years in prison on importation and weapons charges. U.S. prosecutors said he built his political career on millions of dollars in bribes from traffickers in Honduras and Mexico, and as president helped to move at least 400 tons of cocaine to the United States while protecting traffickers from extradition and prosecution.” [Washington Post, 12/2/25]

Trump Pardoned Ross Ulbricht, The Operator Of An Illegal Drug Marketplace Who Was Sentenced To Life In Prison On Conspiracy To Commit Drug Trafficking, Money Laundering, And Computer Hacking Charges

January 22, 2025: Donald Trump Pardoned Ross Ulbricht, Who Operated The Silk Road, An Illegal Drug Marketplace On The Dark Web, And Was Sentenced To Life In Prison In 2015. “US President Donald Trump says he has signed a full and unconditional pardon for Ross Ulbricht, who operated Silk Road, the dark web marketplace where illegal drugs were sold. Ulbricht was convicted in 2015 in New York in a narcotics and money-laundering conspiracy and sentenced to life in prison.” [BBC, 1/22/25]

Ulbricht Was Found Guilty Of Charges Including Conspiracy To Commit Drug Trafficking, Money Laundering And Computer Hacking. “Ulbricht was found guilty of charges including conspiracy to commit drug trafficking, money laundering and computer hacking. During his trial, prosecutors said Ulbricht's website, hosted on the hidden ‘dark web’, sold more than $200m (£131m) worth of drugs anonymously. Prosecutors said he also solicited six murders-for-hire, including one against a former Silk Road employee, though they said no evidence existed that any killings were actually carried out.” [BBC, 1/22/25]

Prosecutors Noted Ulbricht’s Website Facilitated The Sale Of More Than $200 Million Worth Of Drugs

Prosecutors Noted Ulbricht’s Website Facilitated The Sale Of More Than $200 Million Worth Of Drugs. “Ulbricht was found guilty of charges including conspiracy to commit drug trafficking, money laundering and computer hacking. During his trial, prosecutors said Ulbricht's website, hosted on the hidden ‘dark web’, sold more than $200m (£131m) worth of drugs anonymously. Prosecutors said he also solicited six murders-for-hire, including one against a former Silk Road employee, though they said no evidence existed that any killings were actually carried out.” [BBC, 1/22/25]

The Trump Administration Proposed Restructuring The Department Of Health And Human Services And Cutting Substance Abuse Grant Programs, Which Put “Essential Services For Millions Of Americans With Mental Health And Substance Use Disorders At Risk”

Trump’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Proposed Restructuring The Substance Abuse And Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) And The Health Resources And Services Administration (HRSA) And Reduced Their Operating Budget By $1 Billion

Trump’s FY2026 Budget Included Dissolving The Substance Abuse And Mental Health Services Administration And The Health Resources And Services Administration And Consolidating Them Into A New Administration For A Healthy America. “The Department of Health and Human Services has proposed restructuring federal mental health agencies and reducing their funding in the President’s FY26 budget. This includes dissolving the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), consolidating them into a new Administration for a Healthy America (AHA). SAMHSA currently provides critical funding for community mental health centers, suicide prevention programs, and substance use treatment initiatives, while HRSA supports the training of mental health professionals and delivers services to underserved communities. The proposed restructuring includes a $1 billion cut to these programs, putting essential services for millions of Americans with mental health and substance use disorders at risk. Congress would need to approve the proposed restructuring and funding changes for them to go into effect.” [American Psychological Association, 7/10/25]

The Restructuring Of Substance Abuse And Mental Health Services Administration And The Health Resources And Services Administration Included A $1 Billion Cut To The Programs. “The Department of Health and Human Services has proposed restructuring federal mental health agencies and reducing their funding in the President’s FY26 budget. This includes dissolving the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), consolidating them into a new Administration for a Healthy America (AHA). SAMHSA currently provides critical funding for community mental health centers, suicide prevention programs, and substance use treatment initiatives, while HRSA supports the training of mental health professionals and delivers services to underserved communities. The proposed restructuring includes a $1 billion cut to these programs, putting essential services for millions of Americans with mental health and substance use disorders at risk. Congress would need to approve the proposed restructuring and funding changes for them to go into effect.” [American Psychological Association, 7/10/25]

• Trump’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Cut $1 Billion From The Substance Abuse And Mental Health Administration Operating Budget. “The country's main mental health agency, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, commonly known as SAMHSA, is in the process of being dissolved. It has lost more than a third of its staff of about 900 this year as part of recent reductions in the federal workforce. President Trump's budget bill cuts $1 billion from the agency's operating budget, and its mission is being folded into a new entity shaped by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.” [NPR, 6/6/25]

SAMHSA Supported Community-Based Mental Health Services And Addiction Treatment And Prevention. “SAMHSA was created in 1992 through bipartisan legislation signed by President George H.W. Bush. The agency was tasked with supporting community-based mental health services and addiction treatment and prevention. It mostly accomplished this through grants to states, communities and private groups for mental health and addiction related services. In recent years, the agency's budget has grown to address the increasing demand for mental health and addiction care. In 2024, SAMHSA's budget was about $7.5 billion, the bulk of which flowed to states for specialized programs to address mental health issues and addiction.” [NPR, 6/6/25]

Trump’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Proposed Cutting $1 Billion In Funding From Programs Of Regional And National Significance (PRNS) Grants, Which Funded State Programs Focused On Mental Health, Substance Use Prevention, And Substance Use Treatment

Trump’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Proposed Cutting $1 Billion In Funding From Programs Of Regional And National Significance Grants. “President Trump’s proposed budget for the Department of Health and Human Services, released in May 2025, cuts or eliminates many programs currently funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). One of the mechanisms through which SAMHSA funding supports substance use-related services for states, cities, counties, and local organizations is currently facing major cuts. It’s called Programs of Regional and National Significance or PRNS… SAMHSA awards PRNS grants in three areas: mental health, substance use prevention, and substance use treatment. The proposed budget cuts over $1 billion dollars from the PRNS, with the vast majority of the programs completely eliminated. The SAMHSA dashboard provides details on programs currently receiving money from SAMHSA through PRNS; it can be searched by state to understand the scope of the cuts of the program.” [John Hopkins University, accessed 12/4/25]

• Programs Of Regional And National Significance Grants Were Administered To States And Other Localities By SAMHSA And Focused On Mental Health, Substance Use Prevention, And Substance Use Treatment. “President Trump’s proposed budget for the Department of Health and Human Services, released in May 2025, cuts or eliminates many programs currently funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). One of the mechanisms through which SAMHSA funding supports substance use-related services for states, cities, counties, and local organizations is currently facing major cuts. It’s called Programs of Regional and National Significance or PRNS… SAMHSA awards PRNS grants in three areas: mental health, substance use prevention, and substance use treatment. The proposed budget cuts over $1 billion dollars from the PRNS, with the vast majority of the programs completely eliminated. The SAMHSA dashboard provides details on programs currently receiving money from SAMHSA through PRNS; it can be searched by state to understand the scope of the cuts of the program.” [John Hopkins University, accessed 12/4/25]

Colorado Received More Than $26 Million In PRNS Funding In Fiscal Year 2024

In FY2024, Colorado Received $26,064,387 In PRNS Discretionary Funding. “How much PRNS funding does each state receive? Below is a table listing all of the money currently coming to each state through PRNS funding; approximately $1 billion would be eliminated should the proposed budget pass…State…Colorado… FY2024 Discretionary Funds Received from SAMHSA…$26,064,387.” [John Hopkins University, accessed 12/4/25]

Trump’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Proposed Consolidating Existing Mental Health And Substance Use Disorder Grant Programs Into One Block Grant And Cutting Funding For Certain Grants By At Least 10.4%

Trump’s FY2026 Budget Proposed Consolidating Existing Mental Health And Substance Use Disorder Grant Programs Such As The Mental Health Services Block Grant, The Substance Use Prevention And Recovery Services Block Grant And State Opioid Response Grants Into One Block Grant. “Within the behavioral health area, the AHA also consolidates several mental health and substance use disorder grant programs into a Behavioral Health Innovation Block Grant, including the Mental Health Services Block Grant and the Substance Use Prevention and Recovery Services Block Grant. In addition, it includes the state opioid response grants. A similar effort was proposed under the Obama administration, and the idea has had a variety of supporters and detractors over the years. Two aspects of the new programs are significant. The first is the level of funding. The total for the three components of the new block grant was $4.49 billion in 2024 and would be about $4.13 billion under the proposed budget, a reduction of 10.4%.” [Brookings, 6/27/25]

Brookings: The Total For The Mental Health Services Block Grant, The Substance Use Prevention And Recovery Services Block Grant, And State Opioid Response Grants Was $4.49 Billion In 2024 And Would Be About $4.13 Billion Under The Proposed Budget, A Reduction Of 10.4%.“Within the behavioral health area, the AHA also consolidates several mental health and substance use disorder grant programs into a Behavioral Health Innovation Block Grant, including the Mental Health Services Block Grant and the Substance Use Prevention and Recovery Services Block Grant. In addition, it includes the state opioid response grants. A similar effort was proposed under the Obama administration, and the idea has had a variety of supporters and detractors over the years. Two aspects of the new programs are significant. The first is the level of funding. The total for the three components of the new block grant was $4.49 billion in 2024 and would be about $4.13 billion under the proposed budget, a reduction of 10.4%.” [Brookings, 6/27/25]

Trump’s FY2026 Budget Proposal Reduced Spending For The Mental Health Block Grant, The Substance Use Block Grant, And The State Opioid Response Grant By Approximately $500 Million. “President Trump’s proposed budget for the Department of Health and Human Services, released in May 2025, cuts or eliminates many programs currently funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)…These cuts are not made up elsewhere in the budget. Aside from PRNS, SAMHSA also provides dollars directly to states through the mental health block grant and the substance use block grant. The proposed budget combines these with the State Opioid Response grant to create a single consolidated block grant – the Behavioral Health Innovation Block Grant. However, the budget for this new block grant reduces spending by approximately $500 million compared to what states currently receive through these three distinct programs.” [John Hopkins University, access 12/8/25]

The Proposed Cuts In Trump’s Budget Put “Essential Services For Millions Of Americans With Mental Health And Substance Use Disorders At Risk”

The Proposed Cuts In Trump’s Budget Put “Essential Services For Millions Of Americans With Mental Health And Substance Use Disorders At Risk.” “The Department of Health and Human Services has proposed restructuring federal mental health agencies and reducing their funding in the President’s FY26 budget. This includes dissolving the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), consolidating them into a new Administration for a Healthy America (AHA). SAMHSA currently provides critical funding for community mental health centers, suicide prevention programs, and substance use treatment initiatives, while HRSA supports the training of mental health professionals and delivers services to underserved communities. The proposed restructuring includes a $1 billion cut to these programs, putting essential services for millions of Americans with mental health and substance use disorders at risk. Congress would need to approve the proposed restructuring and funding changes for them to go into effect.” [American Psychological Association, 7/10/25]

March 2025: The Trump Administration Abruptly Cancelled $11.4 Billion In Funding For Grants That Supported Addiction Recovery Programs, Mental Health Services, And Other Programs

NPR: The Trump Administration Cancelled “Roughly $11.4 Billion In COVID-Era Funding For Grants Linked To Addiction, Mental Health And Other Programs.” “State and county public health departments and nonprofit groups are reeling after the Trump administration announced abrupt cancellation and revocation of roughly $11.4 billion in COVID-era funding for grants linked to addiction, mental health and other programs…The federal grant funding had been scheduled to run through September 2025. In a statement sent to NPR, a spokesperson with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said it made sense to freeze the program immediately.” [NPR, 3/27/25]

Experts Warned The Funding Cuts Could Trigger Substance Abuse Treatment Disruptions And Would Claw Back Funds That States Used To Reduce Overdose Deaths

Keith Humphreys, An Addiction Policy Researcher At Stanford University, Warned The Trump Administration Cuts Could Trigger Layoffs And Treatment Disruptions. “’This is chopping things off in the middle while people are actually doing the work,’ said Keith Humphreys, an addiction policy researcher at Stanford University, who also volunteers doing harm reduction work with people in addiction. He warned the move could trigger layoffs and treatment disruptions. ‘Services will be dropped in the middle. Bang, the clinic is closing. It's a brutal way to make these cuts,’ Humphreys said.” [NPR, 3/27/25]

Regina Labelle, An Expert On Drug Policy At Georgetown University Said, “DOGE Is Now Actively Cutting Funding Aimed At Reducing Overdose Deaths By Clawing Back Money From States.” “The move to rescind funds that include addiction-care grants drew criticism from experts who warned progress reducing overdose deaths could be reversed. ‘DOGE is now actively cutting funding aimed at reducing overdose deaths by clawing back money from states,’ wrote Regina LaBelle, an expert on drug policy at Georgetown University who served in the Biden administration in a post on social media. ‘With overdose deaths still exceeding 80,000 annually, is DOGE declaring victory?’” [NPR, 3/27/25]

Allie Eliot, A Spokesperson For Colorado's Behavioral Health Administration, Said The $250 Million In Federal Cuts Would Affect As Many As 60 Programs In Colorado And Could Put Patients At Risk

Allie Eliot, A Spokesperson For Colorado's Behavioral Health Administration, Said The $250 Million In Federal Cuts Would Affect As Many As 60 Programs And Could Put Patients At Risk. “A spokesperson for Colorado's Behavioral Health Administration said $250 million in federal cuts to her state would affect as many as 60 programs and could put patient at risk. ‘In so many cases, these are life-saving programs and services, and we worry for the wellbeing of those who have come to count on this support,’ spokeswoman Allie Eliot, wrote in an email to Colorado Public Radio.” [NPR, 3/27/25]

• March 2025: Under DOGE, The HHS And The CDC Terminated $250 Million In Ongoing And Planned Federal Funding For Public And Behavioral Healthcare In Colorado. “The US Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have terminated $250 million in ongoing and planned federal funding for public and behavioral healthcare in Colorado. A spokesperson for the Behavioral Health Administration said the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration notified the state of the termination on Monday and said it was implementing the President’s ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ Cost Efficiency Initiative and the grants were terminated effective March 24, 2025.” [CPR News, 5/26/25]

A Review Of Evans’ Social Media And Public Statements Returned No Mentions Of Trump’s Pardons Or Proposed Cuts

A Review Of Evans’ Social Media And Public Statements Returned No Mentions Of Trump’s Pardon Of Hernández

A Search Of Evans’ X Accounts For “Hernández” Or “Honduras” Or “Pardon” Returned No Results.

Image: see original report, p. 19

[X, Advanced Search, accessed 12/4/25]

A Search Of Evans’ Congressional Website For “Juan Orlando Hernández” Returned No Results. [Congressman Gabe Evans, accessed 12/4/25]

A Review Of Evans’ Social Media And Public Statements Returned No Apparent Mentions Of Trump’s Pardon Of Ulbricht

A Search Of Evans’ X Accounts For “Ulbricht” Or “Ross” Or “Pardon” Returned No Results.

Image: see original report, p. 20

[X, Advanced Search, accessed 12/4/25]

A Search Of Evans’ Congressional Website For “Ross Ulbricht” Returned No Statement Or Comments From Evans On Ulbricht’s Pardon. [Congressman Gabe Evans, accessed 12/4/25]

A Review Of Evans’ Social Media And Public Statement Returned No Mentions Of Trump’s Proposed Cuts To SAMHSA

A Search Of Evans’ X Accounts For “SAMHSA” Returned No Results.

Image: see original report, p. 20

[X, Advanced Search, accessed 12/4/25]

A Search Of Evans’ Congressional Website For “SAMHSA” Returned No Statement Or Comments From Evans On The Cuts To SAMHSA. [Congressman Gabe Evans, accessed 12/4/25]

A Review Of Evans’ Social Media And Public Statement Returned No Mentions Of Trump’s Proposed Funding Cuts To The Department of Health and Human Services

A Search Of Evans’ X Accounts For “HHS” Or “Health And Human Services” Returned No Results.

Image: see original report, p. 21

[X, Advanced Search, accessed 12/4/25]

A Search Of Evans’ Congressional Website For “Health And Human Services” Returned No Statement Or Comments From Evans On Cuts The Cuts To The HHS. [Congressman Gabe Evans, accessed 12/4/25]

Image: see original report, p. 21

[Congressman Gabe Evans, accessed 12/4/25]