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Rich Danker, the chief spokesman for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., resigned on Wednesday in protest against the Trump administration’s decision to permit major tobacco companies to sell flavored e-cigarettes. His resignation came just one day after Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary also stepped down, citing concerns over the same controversial vaping policy.
According to a resignation letter obtained by The New York Times, Danker warned President Donald Trump that approving flavored vaping products could encourage more teenagers and young adults to start vaping. He argued that increased youth vaping could lead to serious health risks, including nicotine addiction, respiratory illnesses, and potential cancer-related complications.
Despite his criticism of the new FDA policy, Danker made it clear that he did not personally blame Trump. In his letter, he praised the president, writing that Trump had “twice restored our prosperity and national security against all odds.” Instead, Danker pointed to unnamed senior officials within the Department of Health and Human Services, excluding Kennedy, as the driving force behind the policy change.
The updated FDA policy, posted on the agency’s website Friday, outlined plans to crack down on illegal e-cigarette products while allowing the sale of flavored vaping products that had already moved through portions of the FDA approval process. Supporters argue the policy creates clearer regulations for the vaping industry, while critics fear it could weaken protections designed to reduce youth nicotine use.
Reports indicate that Dr. Marty Makary attempted to block the approval of flavored e-cigarettes before being overruled. Sources familiar with the matter said President Trump played a direct role in pushing the policy forward.
The resignations highlight growing tensions within the administration over public health policy, tobacco regulation, and the future of flavored e-cigarettes in the United States.
