Key facts
- The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has had its staff reduced by 75%.
- Over 100 research grants, collectively valued at over $250 million, have been canceled.
- Despite Congress appropriating $345 million for AHRQ in FY2026, only $15 million has been allocated to grants.
- 30 Democratic senators accused Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of 'sabotage' and 'outrageous abuse of administrative power'.
- The senators demanded the immediate rescinding of grant cancellations and proper investment of appropriated funds.
Health experts and Democratic lawmakers are sharply criticizing Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, for what they describe as the "sabotage" of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).
According to an opinion piece by health policy experts Aaron Carroll and David Atkins, the Trump administration has drastically reduced AHRQ's staff by 75%, canceled numerous grants, and is withholding significant appropriated funds. This has led to research across more than 30 states being halted, with scientists laying off staff and shutting down programs.
In July, AHRQ abruptly canceled grants for approximately 150 researchers, totaling over $250 million. Despite Congress allocating $345 million for fiscal year 2026, only $15 million has been disbursed for grants. This has prompted concerns about the future survival of the agency and the development of the next generation of health services researchers.
Thirty Democratic senators sent a letter to Kennedy last week, labeling his handling of AHRQ as an "outrageous abuse of administrative power" that will negatively impact American health outcomes. They highlighted canceled research projects focused on critical areas such as maternal emergencies in rural areas, home dialysis access, patient fall reduction, antibiotic overuse, autism care for Black children, and chronic pain management.
The senators noted that grant cancellations were communicated via form letters with contradictory explanations. They demanded that Kennedy immediately rescind these cancellations and ensure that appropriated funds are invested in life-saving health research as intended by Congress. The senators have given Kennedy until August 25 to respond.