Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s chief spokesperson, Richard (Rich) Danker, resigns from his role as assistant secretary for public affairs, citing disagreements over efforts to move forward with authorization for flavored e-cigarettes. Danker’s resignation follows his concerns that allowing certain vape flavors could increase youth nicotine addiction risks, which he says conflicts with guidance the department has issued about protecting children.
According to a resignation letter cited by ABC News, Danker argues that recent vape-related authorization efforts “undermine” the department’s prior guidance document focused on youth risks tied to flavored nicotine. The Hill reports that Danker resigned on Wednesday and that he left his position a day after Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty... (the report indicates the timing is tied to recent FDA leadership actions).
The sources agree that Danker presents the policy dispute as the reason for his departure, specifically linking flavored e-cigarette authorizations to potential harm to children and a perceived mismatch with HHS youth-focused messaging.
