Federal Tobacco Control Cuts Threaten Progress, American Lung Association Warns
The American Lung Association released its 24th annual “State of Tobacco Control” report on January 28, 2026, warning that the largest federal rollback of tobacco prevention efforts in decades is putting hard-won public health progress at risk. The report evaluates state and federal efforts to prevent and reduce tobacco use and issues urgent recommendations for action.
According to the report, tobacco use remains the nation’s leading cause of preventable death and disease, claiming the lives of more than 490,000 people each year. In 2025, the tobacco control and prevention landscape fundamentally changed when the administration took a series of actions that weakened enforcement and jeopardized public health efforts across the country. These included the virtual elimination of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Office on Smoking and Health, major staffing cuts to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Tobacco Products, and delaying Congressionally appropriated funding for nearly six months.
tobacco control and quitline programs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia were left at risk of shutting down, with some states drastically reducing lifesaving services. The American Lung Association warns that these unprecedented disruptions will embolden the tobacco industry to expand its predatory marketing and put more lives at risk.
The report assigns letter grades, A through F, to state and federal policies proven effective in preventing and reducing tobacco use. It highlights tobacco industry aggression at the state and federal level to protect profits at the expense of public health. In the 2026 report, no state received all A grades, underscoring the need for stronger action.
The American Lung Association is calling on the federal government to fully restore critical tobacco control programs, including the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health. In the current absence of federal leadership, the association urges state legislatures to advance strong, fact-based tobacco control policies that protect communities and reduce tobacco use.
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