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Art Kleinschmidt, who was serving as the de facto head of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), has left the role.
The details:
- He had led SAMHSA since early April, presiding over the agency as it underwent cuts to its staff and programming, though his role in those cuts is unclear.
- Kleinschmidt has accepted a new role at the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Health Security.
The bigger picture: Kleinschmidt’s departure highlights the lack of high-ranking Trump administration officials serving in key addiction, mental health, and drug policy roles.
- Despite being in office for nearly a year, the Trump administration has not moved to nominate a SAMHSA administrator, leaving Kleinschmidt as the agency’s top official despite his title as principal deputy assistant.
- The Senate has not yet confirmed Sara Carter Bailey, the former Fox News journalist nominated to lead the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).
Next steps: Chris Carroll, who has served at SAMHSA since 2024, now will be principal deputy assistant, placing him atop the agency.
Read more: Acting head of beleaguered mental health agency to depart this week
Published
December 2025