WASHINGTON D.C January 29, 2026 — President Donald Trump signed an executive order on January 29 establishing the “White House Great American Recovery Initiative,” a coordinated federal effort to address drug addiction and substance abuse across the United States.
The new initiative will advise federal agencies on allocating grants to support addiction recovery and promote greater public awareness of drug addiction issues. It will focus on integrating programs for prevention, early intervention, treatment, recovery support, and re-entry services for individuals returning from incarceration.
The initiative will be co-chaired by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Kathryn Burgum, a prominent addiction recovery advocate who has been sober for 22 years following her own struggle with alcoholism. Burgum is married to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.
The executive order addresses a persistent public health challenge. According to 2024 data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), approximately 40.7 million American adults had a substance use disorder, yet 95.6% did not recognize the need for treatment.
The initiative follows recent federal actions, including efforts to target drug traffickers in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, as well as the reversal of proposed cuts to nearly $2 billion in mental health and addiction treatment programs.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the planned signing on January 29 via X, highlighting the event scheduled for 4 p.m. at the White House.
About The Author
