Trump Administration Extends the National Health Emergency

The Trump administration is renewing the public health emergency declaration for the COVID–19 pandemic, ensuring key resources are available nationally for fighting the virus.

This is the third time Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar, under the Trump administration, has extended the emergency declaration, which must be renewed every 90 days. The latest renewal comes without speculation over whether the administration would let the declaration lapse. Azar announced the renewal nearly three weeks before the declaration was set to end, providing certainty to the behavioral health community.

The public health emergency declaration has been critical in providing resources so that mental health professionals can provide much-needed counseling services to individuals across the U.S. The public health emergency declaration, in combination with HHS’s expansion of several telehealth, telemedicine, and telebehavioral initiatives, has given valuable flexibility to mental health counselors across the nation and has provided greater access to care for millions of Americans.

The renewal will take effect October 23 and last for 90 days.