Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shocked the Defense establishment Thursday when he ordered the dismissal of dozens of Defense advisory committee members. “To support the new strategic direction and policy priorities of the Department, we require fresh thinking to drive bold changes,” wrote Hegseth in a memo dismissing the committee members. “Therefore, informed by the recently concluded 45-day review, I direct the conclusion of service of all members of each DoD advisory committee, board, or panel subject to the attached memorandum (hereafter collectively referred to as ‘DoD advisory committees’), consistent with applicable law.”
While most of the attention has focused on the demolition of the Defense Policy Board and the defenestration of Obama factotum and harbinger of geopolitical disaster, Susan Rice, the impact goes much farther; see Hegseth Makes Move About Advisory Board That’s Sure to Infuriate Dems…Especially Susan Rice – RedState.
Federal advisory committees are ubiquitous. “Federal advisory committees are created by Congress, Presidents, and executive branch agencies to gain expertise and policy advice from individuals outside the federal government. While they may be called by other names—such as task forces, panels, commissions, working groups, boards, councils, or conferences—the practical purpose of federal advisory committees typically remains the same: to facilitate an exchange of policy ideas among experts and affected parties and to provide recommendations to the federal government. Since 1972, many federal advisory committees have been subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA; 5 U.S.C. Chapter 10).”
The Department of Defense has 41 advisory committees created under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, ranking it fifth among federal agencies in terms of committees. Health and Human Services has about 260.