Federal Grades

The American Lung Association has identified five key actions for the Trump administration and Congress to take in 2026 that will reduce the death and disease caused by tobacco use:

1. Congress and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must restore and fully staff the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Office on Smoking and Health (OSH) to ensure that states receive tobacco prevention and cessation funding, that comprehensive federal surveillance and evaluation of tobacco can continue, and that the nation regains a functioning federal tobacco control and prevention infrastructure to reduce tobacco-related chronic disease;
2. Congress and HHS must reestablish and adequately fund the Tips from Former Smokers campaign so CDC can once again deliver proven, life-saving tobacco prevention and cessation messages to people across the country;
3. Congress and HHS must protect the independence of the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) to ensure access to evidence-based services, including quit tobacco treatments and lung cancer screening with no cost-sharing;
4. Congress must pass legislation requiring e-cigarette manufacturers to pay user fees to provide the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with the resources needed for robust oversight and enforcement. With these resources, FDA, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and other members of the multi-agency taskforce must act decisively to remove illegal e-cigarettes from the marketplace; and
5. FDA must maintain a strong, science-based public health standard when reviewing and authorizing tobacco products, ensuring decisions protect kids and public health rather than expanding access to addictive products.

* The federal government gets an I for Incomplete in this category due to data not being able to be obtained about the duration, reach and frequency of the Real Cost campaign in 2025