Physician group sues HHS and USDA over alleged secret panel in dietary guideline rewrite

A physician advocacy group has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's handling of the 2026 dietary guidelines.

The Plaintiffs, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, argue that the Department of Health and Human Services and the USDA relied on a confidential advisory panel composed largely of scientists with ties to the beef, dairy and egg sectors.

The complaint says the panel was assembled behind closed doors, given less than three months to complete its review, and that the agencies ignored statutory requirements governing advisory committees.

The filing seeks to invalidate the revised guidance and calls for a transparent, science-based process free of industry conflicts of interest.