Committees profoundly influence the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) research enterprise. However, the potential power of gatekeeping in committee work has received little attention in Earth and space sciences. We suggest “regenerative gatekeeping” to challenge institutional inertia. By embracing values of belonging, accessibility, justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion in committee work, we imagine new possibilities that are aspirational and enabling. Two examples, a hiring committee process and a seminar series innovation, highlight the need to self-assess policies and practices, ask critical questions, and engage in generative conflict. Rethinking committee work can activate distributed mechanisms needed to promote change.