Durbin Condemns The Trump Administration’s FDA For Authorizing The First Ever Flavored E-Cigarettes And Allowing Illegal Vape Products To Remain On The Market

Durbin Condemns The Trump Administration's FDA For Authorizing The First Ever Flavored E-Cigarettes And Allowing Illegal Vape Products To Remain On The Market

Following Dr. Makary's resignation, Durbin: "Why would an Administration supposedly committed to 'Making America Healthy Again' unleash this new wave of addiction?"

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today slammed the Trump Administration's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the decision to approve the sale and marketing of fruit-flavored electronic cigarettes for the first time, and its decision to allow illegal vaping products-primarily used by children-to remain on the market indefinitely. Durbin's speech follows the forced resignation of FDA Commissioner, Dr. Marty Makary, who reportedly opposed President Trump's efforts to make flavored vapes more accessible for children.

Durbin said, "[When I was 14 years old], my father died of lung cancer. Seeing my dad struggle changed my life. I have made it a priority during my time in Congress to spare others from this suffering. We have made significant progress in reducing smoking over the last several decades. After I passed legislation that banned smoking on airplanes, it appeared to be a tipping point, and increasingly we've seen tobacco and cigarettes disappear from public spaces. But Big Tobacco did not dissipate like a cloud of smoke. They re-branded with flashy new products: vaping and e-cigarettes. And they followed the same playbook they used to sell Marlboro cigarettes and so many others. They targeted our children in America."

"Tobacco companies donated to Donald Trump's election, his inauguration, and his Great Gatsby ballroom-with the expectation of favorable treatment. President Trump's Administration has delivered for Big Tobacco. Last week, the Food and Drug Administration did something it has never done before. After pressure from President Trump, the FDA authorized the first ever flavored e-cigarettes," Durbin continued.

During his speech, Durbin noted that scientists, doctors, and parents-even the FDA's own studies-all acknowledge that sweet and fruity flavored e-cigarettes are responsible for addicting children to nicotine. Health experts he has spoken with believe the true number of high schoolers vaping is at least 40 percent.

Durbin said, "These are not kids vaping to quit cigarette smoking-these are kids who first became addicted to nicotine because of flavored vapes. Why would an Administration supposedly committed to 'Making America Healthy Again' unleash this new wave of addiction on our children? Formaldehyde, chromium, heavy metals like nickel and lead-all of these are present in e-cigarettes. A recent study found that vaping is likely to cause cancer. We should not trust Big Tobacco when they promise they will not market to kids. We know better."

On Friday, FDA granted a free pass to scores of illegal vapes, permitting them to stay on the market without having met the law's requirement of first proving to FDA that their product is "appropriate for protection of public health."

"But even that gift to vaping and cigarette titans Altria and RJ Reynolds was not enough to spare the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. Yesterday, President Trump forced the resignation [of Dr. Makary]. [He] is gone for his resistance to this expansion of vaping to the high schoolers in America. What a disgraceful display in Washington. The President wants yes-men, no matter the consequences-even if it harms our children. While we did not agree on everything that Dr. Makary did, I appreciated his commitment and focus on protecting children from Big Tobacco," Durbin said.

Durbin concluded, "Whether it is for drugs, medical devices, or tobacco products-it is never a good idea for the President and the White House to pressure regulators to approve applications. That is a recipe for deadly consequences. As the President's whims have created dangerous vacancies now at FDA and the CDC, my Republican colleagues should have the nerve and fortitude to call out this alarming, unacceptable, and dangerous behavior and treatment of our children."

Durbin has been a vocal leader in the fight against Big Tobacco since he lost his father to lung cancer when Durbin was 14 years old. He went after Big Tobacco when he served in the House of Representatives and led the charge to ban smoking on airplanes, which eventually led to bans on smoking in restaurants, office buildings, trains, and other locations. Durbin has also led efforts to grant FDA jurisdiction over tobacco, raise tobacco taxes to prevent youth initiation, and enhance support for tobacco cessation tools.

During last month's Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing about the President's Fiscal Year 2027 budget request for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Durbin called on Secretary Kennedy to crack down on illegal e-cigarette products, especially those targeting children.

Video of Durbin's remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

Audio of Durbin's remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

Footage of Durbin's remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.

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