Federal Science Advice: Elements to Retain and Areas for Reform

By
Gretchen T. Goldman
Darya Minovi
October 29, 2026

Jama Network Open

At a Glance

Category	Detail
Condition	Federal science advisory committees and their role in HHS decision-making
Key Mechanisms	Advisory committees provide scientific recommendations that inform agency decisions; the article discusses committee dissolution, conflicts of interest, and proposed reforms to the Federal Advisory Committee Act.
Target Population	Federal agencies, policymakers, advisory committee members, and the public affected by federal health and safety decisions
Care Setting	US federal health and safety policy, including HHS decisions on vaccines, research funding, drugs, medical devices, and nutrition standards

Key Highlights

A study of HHS advisory committees from 1974 through April 2025 found that their recommendations substantially informed departmental decision-making.
The article reports recurring conflict-of-interest concerns, particularly involving FDA advisory committees.
The article states that 194 federal advisory committees had been eliminated by late September 2025; 78% were science-focused.
It describes the removal of public health experts from ACIP and raises concerns about the weakening of independent scientific advice.
Proposed reforms include stronger conflict-of-interest policies, streamlined committee processes, broader expertise, and improved public transparency.

Guideline-Based Recommendations

Diagnosis

Not applicable; the article addresses federal science advice and advisory committee policy.

Management

Reform the Federal Advisory Committee Act to strengthen transparent conflict-of-interest policies and enforcement.
Streamline committee processes, requirements, and timelines across agencies and issue areas.
Broaden recognized committee expertise to include lived experience and Indigenous knowledge.
Improve transparency about committee decision-making before proceedings and coordinate public comment with advisory processes.

Monitoring & Follow-up

The article describes the study’s examination of HHS advisory committee use, conflicts of interest, and influence on agency decisions from 1974 through April 2025.

Risks

The article raises concerns that eliminating or weakening advisory committees may reduce independent scientific input into federal decisions.
It reports conflict-of-interest concerns and alleges, in a lawsuit, that conflicted members were selected for the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee and that the guidelines were improperly revised.

Patient & Prescribing Data

No specific patient population or prescribing regimen is discussed; the article concerns federal policies affecting public health and safety.

No treatment recommendations are provided. The article discusses scientific advice informing vaccine policy, drug and medical-device regulation, research funding, and nutrition standards.

Clinical Best Practices

The article calls for federal policy decisions to be informed by credible scientific experts.
It advocates transparent policies and enforcement addressing advisory committee conflicts of interest.
It recommends incorporating diverse forms of expertise, including lived experience and Indigenous knowledge.
It supports clearer public transparency and better coordination of public comment with scientific advisory processes.