Viewpoint: Trump has sided with the cigarette industry in blocking a proposed FDA ban of menthol cigarettes. Why that will kill black people?

Today, January 24, 2025, the Trump administration extinguished a long-awaited ban on menthol cigarettes, derailing decades of public health efforts aimed at reducing tobacco-related deaths, particularly among Black Americans. This decision marks a stunning reversal of a policy that public health experts projected could prevent up to 654,000 deaths over 40 years, including 255,000 Black lives.

In 2011, the FDA’s scientific advisory committee recommended banning menthol. In 2013, the FDA began gathering public comments. In 2021, after being sued for inaction, the FDA finally announced plans for a ban. By October 2023, it seemed victory was at hand when the FDA sent its final rule to the White House.

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Despite federal inaction, progress continues at the local level. Currently, 127 jurisdictions across America have implemented comprehensive bans on flavored tobacco products, including menthol. Massachusetts led the way with a statewide ban, while California has 94 localities with comprehensive flavor restrictions. These local efforts show that change is possible, even as federal policy remains caught between public health and profit.

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