Experts warn US federal budget cuts could hamper tobacco control

A commentary published in the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research warns of the consequences of significant budget cuts to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States.[1], which would particularly affect the fight against tobacco and nicotine.

Impact on public health programs

Approximately $2 billion (€1.7 billion) in research grants and $783 million (€667 million) in funding for diversity and inclusion projects were eliminated. According to the authors, these cuts jeopardize efforts to combat tobacco use and reduce health inequalities, as smoking causes nearly 480,000 premature deaths annually in the country and costs the US economy more than $600 billion (€511 billion) annually.

The researchers note in particular that the Institute for Minority and Health Disparities has suffered the highest proportion of funding cuts, impacting work on ethnic and sexual minorities. A 2024 report by the US Secretary of Health stated that " Disparities in tobacco use persist by race and ethnicity, income level, education level, sexual orientation, gender identity, type of employment, geographic location, and behavioral health status. »[2].

The authors also raise concerns about the complete elimination of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Office of Smoking and Health, which spearheaded the Tips From Former Smokers campaign, which is estimated to have prevented nearly 130,000 premature deaths and saved $7.3 billion (€6.2 billion) in healthcare costs, while significantly increasing the use of smoking cessation hotlines.

Several states have already seen a reduction, or even disappearance, of funding for these devices, threatening the progress made in reducing smoking.

Furthermore, recent layoffs at the Center for Tobacco Products of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and a relaxation of requirements imposed on nicotine pouch manufacturers weaken the protective dimension of regulations, while campaigns like The Real Cost would have contributed to dissuading around 450,000 young people from using vaping products between 2023 and 2024.

A call to preserve health research and equity

In light of these developments, researchers are calling for urgent action to restore funding to NIH programs and federal agencies involved in tobacco control.

They stress the need to maintain diverse and equitable research, capable of producing interventions adapted to the most exposed populations.

The commentary, titled “Act Now to Save Science: The Importance of Tobacco Health Equity Research” and published on September 30, 2025, calls for science and public policy to work together to sustainably reduce the burden of tobacco and associated health inequalities.

©Generation Without Tobacco

AD

[1]Bioengineer.org, Experts Caution Federal Budget Reductions Could Stall Progress in Tobacco Control Efforts, published on September 30, 2025, consulted the same day

[2]Sadie Harley, Robert Egan, Experts warn federal cuts may extinguish momentum in tobacco control, Medical Xpress, published September 30, 2025, accessed September 30, 2025

National Committee Against Smoking |