Federal Watchdog Finds Trump Administration Broke Law on Health Funding

The Department of Health and Human Services, led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has effectively paralyzed the agency’s grantmaking operations. According to Josh Caplan of AcademyHealth, the AHRQ has failed to issue a single new research grant over the past 18 months, as staff departures and leadership decisions have gutted the agency’s capacity to manage federal investments.

Congressional Democrats, including Reps. Diana DeGette, Doris Matsui, and Don Beyer, characterized the move as an illegal power grab. They argue that Article I of the Constitution reserves the power of the purse for Congress, rendering the administration’s refusal to spend authorized resources unconstitutional. Sen. Patty Murray warned that the administration is continuing this pattern, noting recent announcements of an additional $30 million in cuts for the 2026 fiscal year.

A pending lawsuit filed by the Society of General Internal Medicine and the North American Primary Care Research Group further asserts that these actions have actively derailed critical patient safety research. The plaintiffs claim that by halting funds, the administration has abandoned support for innovative healthcare delivery studies that the public relies upon to lower costs and save lives.