FACET-II is a National User Facility at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory with the goal to develop advanced acceleration and coherent radiation techniques using a 10 GeV electron beam of unprecedented beam intensity with >100 kA peak current and <10 µm spot size, a 10 TW experimental laser system, and a variety of solid, gas and plasma targets. A diverse experimental program will investigate beam-driven plasma wakefield acceleration (PWFA), injection, and control with the aim of demonstrating efficient multi-GeV/m PWFA while preserving emittance and narrow energy spread – as is required to reach the beam parameters for a future linear collider. Complimentary research programs into the application of machine learning for accelerator diagnostics and control, novel techniques for the generation of intense coherent radiation, and probing strong-field quantum electrodynamics (QED) also make use of the facility’s unique beam intensity and laser capabilities. The first year of beam delivery to experiments has focused on user assisted commissioning of beam delivery and experimental systems, including a novel EOS BPM with 10 fs bunch length and 5 µm transverse resolution. This contribution will describe the status of the facility, experimental systems, and novel diagnostics, in addition to reviewing the first scientific developments from User programs including initial progress towards beam-driven PWFA.