Health Secretary RFK Jr. has terminated 75 federal advisory committees, representing 27% of HHS's expert panels that shape scientific policies. The cuts primarily affected NIH committees responsible for evaluating grant applications, with a recent analysis showing 74% fewer new awards. This follows Kennedy's controversial restructuring of CDC vaccine advisory panels with anti-vaccine allies, which a federal judge temporarily blocked.
Background
Federal advisory committees provide independent expert guidance to government agencies on scientific and technical matters. The HHS relies on hundreds of such panels to inform healthcare policies and research funding decisions.
- Source
- Ars Technica
- Published
- Mar 20, 2026 at 06:34 AM
- Score
- 7.0 / 10