August 5, 2026
Press Release
PHILADELPHIA, PA– Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02), Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee, joined Philadelphia health research leaders to oppose the Trump Administration’s cuts to programs at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the University of Pennsylvania (Penn). Congressman Boyle also announced that, as the top Democrat on the Budget Committee, he sent a formallettertoday to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Director Roger Klein, demanding answers on these cancellations.
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“This funding isn’t partisan, nor is it controversial. It represents exactly what our federal government should be doing, creating jobs and saving lives by funding critical medical research,” said Congressman Boyle. “As the top Democrat on the House Budget Committee, I’m using my authority to demand answers. Hardworking Philadelphia scientists are counting on this funding. So are the patients across the country, our most vulnerable, who benefit from their work.”
Boyle sent the letter in his capacity as Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee, which has jurisdiction over the budget process, including illegal impoundments or funding freezes
In the letter, he demanded the detailed information needed to determine whether the terminations are illegal, pressed the Administration to identify the authority it claims in canceling these grants, and asked whether the cuts are politically motivated. Boyle also demanded to know whether the Trump Administration will commit to fully spending the funding Congress appropriated for AHRQ
The full letter can be readhere
In recent weeks, AHRQ cut funding for dozens of grants nationwide, including several major programs at CHOP and Penn. AHRQ has also frozen or halted funding for other research grants, often without notice
Congressman Boyle was joined by Dr. Christopher Forrest, Professor of Pediatrics at CHOP and Scientific Director of PEDSnet; and Dr. Rachel Werner, Professor of Medicine at Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine and Research Education Core Leader at PennPORTAL. Boyle was also joined by Drs. Kit Delgado, Meeta Kerlin, and Jaya Aysola with Penn Medicine
“Seven years ago, we started a program called PEDSnet Scholars. That program has trained 44 physicians, psychologists, and nurses who are now improving health care and improving the health and well-being of children,”said Dr. Christopher Forrest. “Our scientists have focused on conditions like kidney disease, mental health disorders like ADHD and substance use, pain, infections, high blood pressure, lung diseases like asthma and cystic fibrosis. Without this funding, this program is going to be terminated, and I thank Congressman Boyle for his leadership.”
“Along with a number of my colleagues here today, and with the AHRQ’s support, we built a program called PORTAL, which trains clinicians to become leaders in building a healthcare system that provides better care for patients,”said Dr. Rachel Werner. “What specifically do we lose from these terminations? First, they mean fewer discoveries that can make healthcare safer and more effective. Second, they mean the immediate loss of jobs. And third, they mean losing the next generation of scientists.”
