The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a broad, nationwide recruitment effort on September 30, 2026, to expand the range of qualified voices on its advisory committees. The agency stated that these independent bodies are responsible for informing some of the most consequential decisions in American public health.
To broaden participation, the FDA published two Federal Register notices. One notice seeks qualified scientific, technical, and professional voting members for current or anticipated vacancies across all committees. The companion notice seeks consumer representatives to ensure the public’s voice is included in deliberations.
Acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas emphasized that the panels bring together leading scientific minds to engage with difficult public health questions. The FDA noted that these committees evaluate evidence on drugs, vaccines, biologics, medical devices, and other regulated products, providing independent recommendations to help the agency make well-informed decisions.
Candidates are invited to apply through a centralized nomination portal. Nominees for scientific and technical voting member positions must demonstrate subject-matter expertise, the ability to interpret complex information, and the capacity to provide objective advice. Nominees for consumer representative positions must demonstrate affiliation with or active participation in consumer or community-based organizations and the ability to analyze technical data from a public perspective.
The FDA will consider nominations for current and anticipated near-term vacancies on a continuing basis. To receive first consideration for current and near-term vacancies, nominations for consumer representatives should be submitted no later than November 15, 2026. Nominations for scientific, technical, professional, and other voting-member positions should be submitted no later than November 30, 2026. Self-nominations are accepted, and members serve terms of up to four years.
