The Government Acountability Office reported today that federal programs to train health professionals have not generated enough data to show whether they are effective. The health-professions programs have provided money to train physicians, dentists, and nurses to serve areas with shortages of those workers, like impoverished urban neighborhoods and rural areas, and many of the trainees are members of minority groups (The Chronicle, June 27, 2003). President Bush and Congress have also complained about a lack of demonstrated effectiveness, and lawmakers slashed funds for the non-nursing part of the programs by half, to $145-million, in the current fiscal year. Congress is expected to consider reauthorizing the programs later this year. Meanwhile, Mr. Bush is seeking further spending cuts for 2007.