The second Trump administration has dissolved more than 100 science-focused federal advisory committees, according to an analysis in the journal Nature. As of March of this year, over a quarter of the nation’s healthcare-related committees have been shut down, according to the advocacy group Public Citizen. The terminations have affected hundreds of experts who were previously engaged in addressing complex scientific and health challenges.
One notable case involves the federal advisory committee on long COVID, which was terminated shortly after beginning operations. The committee included researchers, physicians, and patient advocates working on a condition that impacts millions of Americans. Members included Netia McCray, a long COVID patient and STEM educator, and Dr. Alexandra Yonts, a pediatrician specializing in pediatric long COVID cases. Despite being assembled to address an urgent health crisis, the committee never convened before being dissolved.
The federal advisory committee system was formalized through the Federal Advisory Committee Act in 1972, establishing a mechanism for federal agencies to consult with outside experts on complex issues. These committees address a broad range of topics, from vaccine recommendations to cancer screening protocols to space exploration planning. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, 150 advisory committees at science agencies were terminated in 2025 alone.
White House officials stated that the dissolved committees “were found to be redundant, unnecessary, or ineffective,” but did not provide specific justifications for individual terminations. Science advocacy organizations have expressed concern that the loss of these committees will result in important issues being neglected or isolated within federal agencies. They note that advisory committees provide diverse, independent perspectives that strengthen decision-making. Researchers and healthcare professionals have highlighted specific consequences, such as reduced attention to emerging threats like the drug-resistant fungus Candida auris, which requires specialized infection control measures in healthcare settings.
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