Congress Must Act to Restore Integrity of Federal Science Advisory Committees, Experts Urge

Federal science advisory committees have been systematically weakened by political interference, warn health policy researchers C. Joseph Ross Daval and Aaron S. Kesselheim. They argue that the erosion of independent expert guidance threatens public health, environmental safety, and evidence-based policymaking across agencies like the FDA, EPA, and CDC. The authors point to recent reductions in committee meetings, the removal of academic scientists, and the appointment of industry-aligned members as key warning signs. This trend, they say, leaves agencies without the rigorous, unbiased input needed to evaluate drugs, regulate pollutants, and respond to health crises. Daval and Kesselheim call on Congress to pass legislation that would set clear standards for committee membership, transparency, and continuity, insulating scientific advice from political pressure. Restoring the independence of these panels is not a partisan issue but a foundational one for sound governance. Without legislative action, the nation risks making critical decisions without the best available science.