Trump-era cuts dismantle dozens of federal science advisory panels, experts warn of lasting fallout

During the second Trump administration, more than 100 federal advisory committees that provided scientific guidance were disbanded, a trend highlighted by the termination of a long-COVID advisory panel that included Netia McCray and pediatric specialist Dr. Alexandra Yonts. The cuts affect roughly a quarter of all health-related committees, according to Public Citizen, and span topics from fisheries management to NASA space missions.

Advocates say these panels serve as essential bridges between frontline practitioners and policymakers, offering real-world insight that agency staff often lack. Without them, issues like the drug-resistant fungus Candida auris may receive insufficient attention, and agencies could lose independent checks on their decisions. The White House described the dissolved groups as “redundant, unnecessary, or ineffective,” but critics warn the void will hamper evidence-based governance for years.