There is a large wave of federal cuts.
Brian King, the head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) tobacco division, has been placed on leave amid widespread cuts across federal health agencies. King, who had been leading the FDA’s tobacco control efforts, expressed his disappointment and regret to his staff upon being removed from his position.
Mitch Zeller, the FDA’s former tobacco chief, criticized the move, stating that it would undermine the agency’s ability to effectively create policies. He argued that it made little sense from a public health perspective, as it significantly weakened the agency’s tobacco control efforts.
King joined the FDA in 2022 and quickly became a target of vaping industry criticism, particularly for his role in removing thousands of flavored e-cigarettes from the market. Under his leadership, teen vaping rates fell to their lowest point in a decade. His removal follows the resignation of Dr. Peter Marks, the FDA’s vaccine chief, who stepped down due to concerns over the Trump administration’s handling of vaccine misinformation.
The FDA has experienced a wave of leadership changes in recent months, with top officials across various divisions, including drugs, food, vaccines, and medical devices, resigning or retiring. Former FDA Commissioner Robert Califf lamented the ongoing changes, suggesting that the agency’s effectiveness had been compromised. These shifts align with U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s broader push to reduce FDA staff and investigate certain consumer products, including vaccines and processed foods.
As the FDA undergoes these cuts, new Commissioner Marty Makary faces significant challenges with many experienced staff members gone. During his confirmation hearing, Makary indicated he would conduct a review of the recent job cuts. The FDA’s tobacco center has been under pressure from both anti-vaping advocates and critics who believe the agency has been too slow in approving safer tobacco alternatives for adults while not doing enough to curb illegal products targeting young people. Despite a decrease in smoking rates, tobacco-related diseases continue to claim the lives of over 480,000 Americans annually.
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