In this edition of AcademyHealth’s Situation Report, Congressional Republicans narrowly passed their sweeping “Big Beautiful Bill” budget package, which includes dramatic Medicaid cuts, new state incentives to block expansion, and accelerated work requirements expected to take effect by the end of 2026. The bill, rushed through after overnight negotiations and last-minute amendments, could leave at least 13 million people without health coverage, according to conservative CBO estimates. Meanwhile, AcademyHealth has joined a federal lawsuit to restore public health data recently removed from federal websites—vital information on topics like LGBTQ health, reproductive care, and clinical trials. And in a temporary reprieve, a judge blocked HHS from clawing back over $11 billion in public health grants, which many states say remain critical to sustaining essential services. These developments reflect mounting threats to data access, public health infrastructure, and evidence-based policymaking.
Researchers can take action by sharing how these policy shifts impact their work, contributing to AcademyHealth’s story collection, and using our advocacy tools to speak out for science and evidence.
In today’s issue:
- House GOP Narrowly Passes Sweeping Budget Bill After Late-Night Deal
- AcademyHealth Joins Lawsuit to Restore Public Health Data
- Inside Access: AcademyHealth Members Discuss Advocacy, Trust, and the State of HSR
- Judge Halts HHS Claw Back of Public Health Grants as States Feel Impact
- In a Time of Budget Cuts and Doubt, Researchers Must Tell Stronger Stories
- ICYMI: Share Your Story with AcademyHealth
House GOP Narrowly Passes Sweeping Budget Bill After Late-Night Deal
Congressional Republicans passed their budget reconciliation bill, which they have renamed as the “Big Beautiful Bill”, narrowly from the House this morning, after releasing bill text late last night. This comes after two days of rapid developments and overnight deliberation: the House Rules committee convened at 1am ET on Wednesday morning to start these negotiations, and the meeting resumed late last night as Republican leadership attempted to unify the party, culminating in a procedural resolution passed at 2:40am ET this morning.
The bill is as contentious as it is long; at roughly 1200 pages, some Republicans argued the bill should further limit federal spending while more moderate voices fought for leniency among the drastic cuts to essential services. Speaker Mike Johnson was able to achieve his goal of a final House vote before Memorial Day after completing last-minute negotiations with lingering Republican holdouts in the form of an additional 40-page amendment introduced in the 11th hour.
Based on what we know, the final negotiations included state incentives to not expand Medicaid and accelerated timelines on work requirements which are expected to start at the end of 2026. Caps on state-and-local tax deductions quadrupled to $40,000, and special exceptions have been proposed for primary care, mental health care, and addiction treatment options. At least 13 million people are expected to lose health insurance under the House Medicaid cuts according to conservative estimates from the Congressional Budget Office. The ball is now in the Senate’s court, where both parties expect significant changes. Senators need to hear about the implications of this legislation on patients, researchers, and health access.
AcademyHealth Joins Lawsuit to Restore Public Health Data
AcademyHealth has joined a federal lawsuit to restore vital public health data recently removed from federal websites by the Trump Administration. This sweeping erasure affects key health information on topics like LGBTQ health, reproductive care, HIV/AIDS, and clinical trials—data that has saved lives and informed critical policy and care decisions.
How You Can Help:
- Spread the word: Use our Supporter Toolkit to raise awareness.
- Share your story: If you’ve been affected by missing or altered health data, submit your experience to further support the case.
- Donate to support our mission: Standing up for science and evidence has risks. By donating to AcademyHealth, you help sustain our ability to advocate for transparency, innovation, and progress in health research.
Publicly funded data belongs to all of us. Join us in standing up for access to trustworthy, life-saving information.
Inside Access: AcademyHealth Members Discuss Advocacy, Trust, and the State of HSR
At a virtual town hall on Wednesday, more than 80 AcademyHealth members joined President and CEO Aaron Carroll and Director for Government Affairs Josh Caplan for a candid discussion about the shifting policy landscape and what it means for health services research (HSR).
The conversation touched on urgent topics, including funding challenges, the proposed HHS reorganization, and the future of AHRQ and Medicaid. Carroll and Caplan provided timely updates and fielded member questions about how best to engage in advocacy, especially in an unpredictable environment.
Key themes from the discussion included:
- Trust as a foundation for influence. Building trusted relationships with policymakers, and the people who inform them, remains critical to advancing evidence-based policy.
- The power of strategic, bipartisan outreach. Members shared examples of effective messaging that resonates across the aisle, particularly when tied to real-world health outcomes.
- Support for early career researchers. The uncertain funding climate is hitting junior researchers hardest. The town hall surfaced ideas for supporting trainees and sustaining the future pipeline of HSR professionals.
- Momentum heading into ARM. Participants noted the value of this summer’s Annual Research Meeting (ARM) as a critical space to regroup, strategize, and stay connected amid continued change.
This event is part of AcademyHealth’s Virtual Events for Members series—monthly conversations offering insider updates and space for connection across the HSR community. The next event is scheduled for July 16; details will be announced soon. Not yet a member? Join here to stay informed and engaged.
Judge Halts HHS Claw Back of Public Health Grants as States Feel Impact
A federal judge granted a preliminary injunction that halts the Trump administration from rescinding more than $11 billion in grants designed to counter public health threats, including COVID-19, appropriated by Congress during the pandemic. In early April, 23 states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit seeking to halt these cuts, claiming that it would decimate public health infrastructure across the country, as the funding supports pandemic preparedness, mental health, overdose prevention, community health programs, and more. In North Carolina, for instance, cancelled grants will impact the statewide immunization registry and substance use disorder services, while the Minnesota Department of Health expects to lay off 150-200 employees and close five vaccine clinics because the cancelled grants totaled 25 percent of their budget.
Though the federal government argued that the states no longer need the money, given that the pandemic is over, the judge wrote in her decision that HHS does not have the power to declare such money no longer necessary and that the agency ignored multiple requirements governing how block grant programs are terminated. Ultimately, she said that HHS’ decision to terminate the grants was unlawful and “usurped Congress’s power to control these public health appropriations.” This injunction applies only to states involved in the lawsuit; the federal government filed a notice that they are complying with the injunction on May 20.
In a Time of Budget Cuts and Doubt, Researchers Must Tell Stronger Stories
Effectively communicating the value of research and demonstrating its real-world impact is more important than ever. Last month, AcademyHealth hosted a members-only Field in Focus session focused on practical strategies to help researchers strengthen how they share and measure the influence of their work.
A new blog post highlights key takeaways from the event, including how to use storytelling to make research more relatable, identify your intended audience, and begin tracking meaningful outcomes. It features expert guidance on developing impact narratives, selecting the right metrics, and using tools like the Impact Metrics Tracker to monitor results and communicate value. The blog also connects readers to additional AcademyHealth resources that support stronger communication and impact assessment.
Read the blog to explore clear and actionable ways to make your research more visible, compelling, and useful to the people who need it most.
ICYMI: Share Your Story with AcademyHealth
AcademyHealth is collecting stories from across the health services research community to document the real-world impact of federal policy and funding changes. What happens when research is delayed, defunded, or derailed? What’s lost—for patients, for communities, for progress? Help us show policymakers and the public what’s truly at stake when research is sidelined. Your story can inform advocacy, spark action, and protect progress. Share your story here.
Previous Updates
This is the latest in a series of Situation Report updates from AcademyHealth. You can find prior issues here.
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