Since President Trump assumed office last year, nearly 95,000 employees in the science sector and over 10,000 PhD scientists have either been dismissed or resigned from their positions.
These departures are deeply concerning to me as a former federal scientist and White House Office of Science and Technology Policy official. I have witnessed the vital role that science, data, and evidence play in helping policymakers make informed decisions that positively impact lives. The erosion of the federal scientific workforce, along with agencies and norms, is particularly troubling as the nation contends with severe heatwaves, an intensifying climate change-induced “danger season,” the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in history, widespread cyclosporiasis infections from unsafe food and water, and the disruptive expansion of AI data centers across communities.
Beyond the loss of expertise among career federal employees, the Trump administration has also targeted federal science advice from external experts. These experts volunteer their time and knowledge to guide government decisions through federal advisory committees.
The importance of federal science advice
There are currently over 750 Federal Advisory Committees (FACs) across 51 U.S. government agencies. Of these, 484 are specifically located within nine federal agencies with science-related missions, including the Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, and Department of Health and Human Services.
FACs were established to deliver independent, unbiased, and current technical expertise to guide policy decisions across various agencies and issue areas. These committees historically consist of leading independent experts and scientists from academia, state and local government, industry, and nonprofits. Not every government scientist is an expert in every area they advise on, making external expertise crucial.
Expert input is vital for science-based responses to complex global challenges, such as deadly disease outbreaks, flood or wildfire disasters, air pollution standards, and pesticide use. FACs also facilitate public participation in government, representing a crucial form of civic engagement.
How President Trump has affected federal advisory committees and science-based policy
Since 2018, we have tracked how the Trump administration has marginalized science advisory committees and outside scientific expertise in federal policymaking. To hold the administration accountable, we documented stalled and disbanded scientific advisory committees, canceled meetings, and dismissed experts. While expert input was crucial then, it is arguably even more critical now with the large-scale dismissal of federal scientists and reduction of in-house expertise by DOGE.
In President Trump’s second administration, the infrastructure for federal science advice has been disrupted, particularly in a misinformation-rich environment. Following several executive orders, including one that dissolved at least one-third of FACs across the government, it became evident that the administration intended to disrupt federal science advice. In its first six months, the administration terminated or disbanded 27 percent of active science FACs.
One year later, a clearer picture of the damage has emerged.
As of this writing, the FACA database—a government-run platform hosting information on past and current FACs—has not updated data for terminated committees beyond 2024. Therefore, we compiled these numbers.
The consequences of disruptions to these FACs can be extensive. For example:
- In February 2026, term limits expired for the EPA’s Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee (CHPAC), which advises the EPA on various environmental issues affecting children’s health. Although the EPA solicited nominations in August 2025 and intended to fill vacancies by March 1, 2026, the committee remains inactive since its last meeting in August 2025. CHPAC is tasked with advancing research as part of Trump’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda, but its inactivity and prioritization of industry representatives in member nominations hinder this mission.
- The US Preventive Services Task Force, a volunteer panel at HHS, reviews scientific evidence on tests and medications to prevent conditions like cancer, diabetes, and HIV. This essential health care panel has not met since March 2025, having been blocked from doing so four times. This delay leaves critical evidence reviews on hold and the public uninformed, affecting clinical decisions and insurance coverage for millions. The US Supreme Court ruled that the HHS Administrator can remove members and override decisions, allowing political appointees to influence this ostensibly independent, evidence-based committee.
- In April 2026, Trump dismissed all 25 members of the National Science Board at NSF, which finances nearly $9 billion in basic science research across the US. There has been no update on reestablishing this board, suggesting a potential intent to politicize all federal research funding through a proposed OMB rule.
- In April 2026, the EPA announced its new Science Advisory Board (SAB) members. The SAB, another victim of Trump’s actions against independent science, was dismissed in its entirety just days before a new EPA administrator was confirmed. The SAB, which provides independent scientific and technical advice to the EPA, has been reduced by 11 members. The professional backgrounds of its 2024 versus 2026 members show a shift towards a more politicized body, with several members from the chemical industry.
How we’re fighting back: building an alliance for independent science
At UCS, we are forming an alliance for independent science, a key component of our Science Rising initiative, in response to Trump’s efforts to undermine science and eliminate facts, data, and evidence from policymaking.
To counter the Trump administration’s weakening of independent science, scientists from several disbanded committees have independently gathered to provide policy recommendations on critical issues. This courageous response maintains an essential channel for scientific advice.
In partnership with the Environmental Protection Network, we are offering strategic guidance, training, and coordination for independent scientists to provide their expertise and recommendations for evidence-based policies, focusing on:
- Protecting children’s health: We’re bringing together former Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee members and experts in plastics, toxics, pesticides, and environmental health to ensure science keeps our nation’s children healthy. This group operates outside of the government to maintain scientific rigor and transparency while the formal committee remains inactive. Once reactivated, the group will oversee EPA activities to ensure the best science guides public interest and children’s health.
- Protecting clean air: We’re convening a group of former Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee members and experts in air quality and public health to respond to current industry-friendly EPA actions undermining science and public health. Operating independently, this group will develop reports to inform evidence-based policy for current and future administrations.
How you can protect independent science
The scientific community’s broad and clear response in defense of independent science is both encouraging and energizing. In an environment where fear of criticizing the administration persists, such solidarity and commitment are critical for the public good. Science advisors should speak out when they see important scientific work being sidelined by federal agencies.
We must leverage our expertise, networks, and resources to adapt our strategies and focus our efforts for maximum impact. Rebuilding the infrastructure, institutions, and communities from outside government will be essential to preserve what is being dismantled within it.
To determine if an FAC in your research field has been dismantled, use our guide to the FACA database. You can also utilize our toolkit for running an independent science advisory committee to continue the work of dismantled FACs.
To advocate for science and democracy issues in Congress, and to ensure the Federal Advisory Committee Act is followed appropriately, I invite you to join our Science Rising Action Corps.
Action is the antidote to despair, and these steps are crucial toward envisioning and building a more robust federal scientific enterprise.
