science
Trump Sides With Tobacco Industry in Vape Dispute
President Trump intervened in a regulatory dispute over vaping products, supporting tobacco companies against a position held by his own administration's officials. The Food and Drug Administration commissioner resigned in protest following the decision. The New York Times reported the tobacco industry had contributed to groups supporting Trump.
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One official, the FDA commissioner, resigned in protest after the intervention. The tobacco companies involved had contributed to groups affiliated with Trump. Officials at the FDA had been advancing restrictions on certain vaping products before the president's involvement.
The action marks a direct intervention by the president in an ongoing regulatory process at the agency. It remains unclear how the decision will alter specific rules on vape sales or marketing. The resignation of the commissioner followed the resolution of the dispute in favor of the industry position.
Tobacco companies provided financial support to groups connected to Trump ahead of the regulatory decision. No specific amounts or timing details beyond the general connection were provided in the reporting. The FDA had been examining measures that could have tightened controls on vaping devices and liquids.
Industry representatives had opposed those measures. Trump's decision aligned with the companies' objections rather than the agency's earlier direction.
