HHS’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has begun to cancel funding for research related to strengthening patient safety, care delivery, clinical practice and policy, and workforce training, according to a July 16 report from AcademyHealth.
AcademyHealth — a nonprofit focused on health services and policy research — said at least 45 researchers and institutions had received “nearly identical letters” from the AHRQ. The letters confirm the cancellation of grant funding that had already been appropriated by Congress.
“While many investigators had gone months without receiving expected funding, these are the first formal notifications that ongoing projects are effectively being brought to an end,” the report said.
In a statement shared with Becker’s, an HHS spokesperson confirmed certain grants would not receive continued grant funding.
“Under statute, the AHRQ Director must determine whether continuation funding is in the best interest of the federal government,” the statement said. “AHRQ determined that certain non-competing continuation grants and jointly funded grants would not receive continuations awards.”
According to a report from Roll Call, some of the AHRQ letters said the research projects were ending to “better prioritize agency resources.” At least 67 grants had been canceled as of July 17.
The AHRQ has experienced a slow dismantling, having spent none of its $345 million budget for the current fiscal year and operating with a workforce of about 90 people, down from 300.
The agency’s priorities, according to a letter from Director Roger Klein, MD, include patient safety, antibiotic resistance, telehealth, overmedication of children, digital health tools, long COVID, training future health services researchers, replication and reproducibility, a real-world data platform, AI, nutrition, autism, alternative study methods, promoting research focused on scientifically valid, measurable health outcomes, shifting to solution-oriented approaches in health disparities research, and ensuring evidence-based healthcare for children and teenagers identifying as transgender.
Several of the research grants canceled by the AHRQ directly address these priorities, the AcademyHealth report said.
Editor’s note: This article was updated July 20, 2026, at 10:00 am CT.
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.