Trump is laying waste to the agency that keeps hospital patients safe | Robert B Shpiner
Summary
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) helped reduce hospital infections and saved thousands of lives through safety programs funded by federal grants. Since President Donald Trump took office, most of AHRQ’s staff have left, hundreds of grants have been canceled, and the agency's ability to fund new safety projects has largely stopped.Key Facts
- AHRQ funded a national safety effort starting in 2008 that cut dangerous bloodstream infections in intensive care units by 41%.
- The agency estimates its work prevented about 20,500 deaths and saved $7.7 billion between 2014 and 2017.
- Since President Trump took office, about 75% of AHRQ staff have left or been fired.
- In July, AHRQ sent letters canceling at least 104 grants aimed at improving patient safety.
- Congress provided $345 million for AHRQ in the fiscal year, but the agency spent less than $15 million on grants.
- The office that managed grant reviews was closed last summer, making it impossible to issue new grants.
- Grants supporting training for doctors and research on pregnancy risks, cancer detection, and reducing unnecessary scans for children were cut.
- AHRQ’s director said funds were being redirected, but many canceled grants aligned with stated safety goals.
- The director reportedly suggested artificial intelligence could replace much of the scientific work at the agency.
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