AHRQ faces crisis following massive staff and grant cuts

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is facing a critical crisis following significant staff reductions and funding disruptions under the Trump administration. Health policy experts Aaron Carroll and David Atkins, writing in the Annals of Internal Medicine, warn that the agency is “on the brink” due to Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts that have resulted in the loss of approximately 75 percent of its staff through firing or retirement.

In addition to personnel losses, the agency has canceled over 100 research grants totaling more than $250 million. This has led to the suspension of research, staff layoffs, and program closures across more than 30 states. While Congress appropriated $345 million for the 2026 fiscal year, only $15 million has been allocated to grants thus far, leaving much of the funding unspent.

Experts express concern regarding the long-term impact on the scientific community and the development of future health services researchers, calling on Congress to intervene to prevent permanent damage to healthcare quality and patient safety research.