With Donald Trump returning to the White House, the future of tobacco harm reduction (THR) in the U.S. faces uncertainty. His administration's past approach to nicotine policy was marked by contradictions, and his upcoming term is likely to follow the same pattern—favoring industry deregulation while simultaneously politicising tobacco control efforts [1].

The Uncertain Future of the Reduced Nicotine Rule

A major pending regulation is the FDA's plan to mandate reduced nicotine levels in cigarettes—a policy intended to make smoking less addictive. However, given Trump's history of dismantling Biden-era policies, and his hostility toward federal agencies like the FDA, this rule is likely to be shelved or scrapped entirely [2].

Will Harm Reduction Be Sidelined?

Public health advocates have long argued that tobacco harm reduction can help reduce smoking-related deaths, but Trump's policies may not align with that goal. His "grievance politics" and resistance to government intervention could mean the FDA loosens restrictions on traditional tobacco products while keeping hurdles in place for harm reduction alternatives [3,4].

Conclusion: Is there A Rocky Road Ahead for THR?

In conclusion, the Trump administration's tobacco policies are likely to prioritise market-driven solutions and reduced regulations, potentially accelerating the growth of the smoke-free product market while raising concerns about youth nicotine use and long-term public health outcomes [5,6].

References

1. CSP Daily News. (n.d.). Will Trump Administration Result in New Approach to Tobacco, Nicotine Regulation? Retrieved from https://cspdailynews.com/tobacco/will-trump-administration-result-new-approach-tobacco-nicotine-regulation.
2. NPR. (2025). Cigarettes Nicotine Levels FDA VLN Addiction. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/01/15/nx-s1-5258471/cigarettes-nicotine-levels-fda-vln-addiction.
3. Network for Public Health Law. (2025). Three Federal Tobacco Regulatory Measures Up for Change in 2025. Retrieved from https://www.networkforphl.org/news-insights/three-federal-tobacco-regulatory-measures-up-for-change-in-2025/.
4. Imperial Brands Science. (n.d.). Heated Tobacco: A History of Harm Reduction & Public Health Advocacy. Retrieved from https://imperialbrandsscience.com/blog/heated-tobacco-a-history-of-harm-reduction-public-health-advocacy/.
5. Vaping Post. (2025). Tariff Hikes and FDA Reforms: Will the Trump Administration Manage to Strike a Balance in THR? Retrieved from https://www.vapingpost.com/2025/02/10/tariff-hikes-and-fda-reforms-will-the-trump-administration-manage-to-strike-a-balance-in-thr/.
6. Citizens Against Government Waste. (n.d.). FDA Recognizes Value of Tobacco Harm Reduction. Retrieved from https://www.cagw.org/thewastewatcher/fda-recognizes-value-tobacco-harm-reduction.