MILWAUKEE – This week, County Executive David Crowley penned an op-ed for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel following last week’s news of the Trump Administration’s plans to cut over $210 million in federal funding from health services in Wisconsin. The funding had been dedicated to supporting mental and behavioral health services, addressing substance use disorder and the opioid epidemic, and strengthening local emergency medical services.
In the op-ed, Crowley writes, “These cuts are not just numbers on a budget sheet; they are threats to the wellbeing of real people — our neighbors, our families, our friends. This funding supports Milwaukee County residents battling substance use disorder, striving every day to break the cycle. It supports our aging community who rely on emergency medical services to be there in a health crisis. It supports the teenager struggling with depression and anxiety, reaching out for help from a system that is already strained.”
The Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Behavioral Health Services division, and Mental Health Board work tirelessly to deliver crisis intervention, harm reduction services, and overdose prevention resources to the community. The Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) provides vital emergency medical services throughout the entire county. This work requires adequate funding to continue their positive momentum and save lives. Simply put, without dedicated federal funding, this work cannot happen.
“I do not believe taking away tools that support historically marginalized individuals and groups does anything to lift up our communities and deliver prosperity for families and children,” Crowley wrote. “I will continue fighting for funding and resources to deliver results for our most vulnerable communities. These cuts cannot stand.”
Milwaukee County has seen great success with these programs. With increased access to harm reduction supplies, education, programs, and treatment, Milwaukee County is on track to see a 30% decline in opioid overdose deaths compared to 2023. The Emergency Medical Services division of Milwaukee County OEM has continued to implement innovative initiatives, such as administering whole blood transfusions in the field for critically injured trauma patients, immediately saving lives. In addition, partnerships with community organizations have a direct impact on the health of the community, but without federal funding, these organizations are in real danger of having to close their doors and these programs are in danger of being cut.
“The federal government must recognize the urgent need to preserve these vital services,” Crowley concluded. “The lives of our residents depend on it.”
Read County Executive Crowley’s full op-ed HERE.
