Government and Politics
May 2, 2025
From: Oklahoma Governor J Kevin StittOn Friday, May 02, 2025, Governor Kevin Stitt sent a letter to Oklahoma House Speaker Kyle Hilbert and Oklahoma Senate Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton announcing a series of immediate, decisive steps to stabilize the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) and restore public confidence following discoveries of financial and operational mismanagement within the agency.
The letter reads, in part, “The troubling issues that have continued to emerge at the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services are the result of years of mismanagement—these challenges did not arise overnight. When I appointed Commissioner Allie Friesen, I specifically charged her with shining a light on the agency, rooting out longstanding problems, and building a more accountable and transparent department. What we are seeing now is the necessary, if painful, result of that mission being carried out with integrity and urgency.”
The letter outlines three immediate actions the Governor’s office will take to stabilize ODMHSAS operations and ensure long-term reform:
Read the letter in full here.