1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 13
Rich Danker, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s chief spokesman, resigned Wednesday after warning that a new policy would clear the way for flavored e-cigarettes that appeal to children.
His letter to President Donald Trump said senior HHS officials outside Kennedy's office were pushing FDA marketing approvals that could increase risks of nicotine addiction, lung damage and cancer.
The exit came 1 day after FDA Commissioner Marty Makary quit over the same dispute; Makary had tried to block flavored vape marketing but was overruled, with Trump personally involved in advancing the policy.
Friday's FDA policy said the agency would remove illicit e-cigarettes while allowing sales of products that had already crossed some approval hurdles, a shift Danker said undercut a March policy backed by the White House.
The resignation leaves HHS with 3 major vacancies, including surgeon general and CDC director, and marks the second Kennedy spokesman to leave after Thomas Corry quit earlier over the Texas measles outbreak.
Does restricting vape flavors inadvertently push more people toward far deadlier traditional cigarettes?
Can new age-gating technology on vapes truly keep them from teens while helping smokers quit?
Crisis at HHS: Leadership Vacancies, Vaccine Policy Upheaval, and the Erosion of Public Trust in U.S. Public Health (2026)
Overview
In May 2026, the FDA reversed its stance on flavored e-cigarettes, following draft guidance issued in March that opened the door for flavors like coffee, mint, and cinnamon to be authorized for sale. This policy change was seen as a major win for the tobacco industry but sparked strong concern among public health experts and anti-tobacco advocates. They fear that allowing these flavors could undermine recent progress in reducing youth vaping. Experts like Sven Jordt also warned about the potential toxicity of 'spice flavors,' highlighting the tension between industry interests and public health priorities.