Among the defunct advisory committees was the NIH Scientific Review Advisory Board, established in 1988. The advisory board was not responsible for reviewing grant applications; rather, he advised NIH executives on how to allocate research funds.
“get angry”
Apart from the NIH, nine advisory committees were abolished at the CDC, among others such as the ACIP. Four were revoked at the FDA.
Defunct and otherwise weakened advisory committees include those focusing on childhood vaccines, newborn and childhood genetic diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, health equity, health care infection control, rural health, new and exceptional technology, long COVID, and the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).
In January, HHS appointed 21 new members to the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, an advisory panel that tracks research and progress on the causes, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of autism. At least eight of the new members believe, as Kennedy did, the disproved claim that vaccines cause autism. In response to the designations, autism researchers and advocates formed a competing nongovernmental advisory committee to counter the misinformation expected from the federal panel.
At the FDA, the disbanded advisory committees focused on arthritis, medical imaging drugs, pharmaceutical sciences, and patient engagement.
Overall, the report finds that Kennedy’s attack on these expert advisory committees has undermined the US biomedical enterprise and public health, and the damage may be difficult to quickly reverse.
“All Americans, including patients, lawmakers and scientists, have a right to be outraged by Trump’s damage to federal health advisory committees,” said Michael Abrams, senior health researcher at Public Citizen and author of the report. “Trump’s actions undermine biomedical research, the lengthy approval process for new drugs and medical devices, and federal vaccine policy. The silencing and bias of outside experts leaves HHS vulnerable to stagnation and corruption that undermines the health of all Americans.”
