Rich Danker, the Department of Health and Human Services' top spokesman for Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., abruptly resigned on Wednesday in protest of the administration's new vaping policy. In a letter to President Trump that was later obtained by reporters, Danker warned that allowing certain flavored e-cigarettes "would appeal to children and expose them to nicotine addiction, lung damage and higher risk of cancer." His resignation hit as Kennedy was speaking in Los Angeles and added fresh drama to a growing series of personnel shake-ups across federal health agencies.
According to The New York Times, which reviewed a copy of the resignation letter, Danker sent his note directly to Trump and left his post immediately. The outlet reported that Danker had been responsible for coordinating HHS's external communications and that some officials inside the department were caught off guard by how quickly he walked away.
What Changed On Vaping
Just a week earlier, the Food and Drug Administration had, for the first time, authorized certain fruit-flavored e-cigarette products for sale to adults. At the same time, the agency issued guidance that was supposed to sweep illicit devices off the shelves while allowing only approved products to reach the market. Supporters say the move is designed to help adult smokers shift away from combustible cigarettes. Critics, including many public health advocates, counter that the policy risks luring young people into vaping. The Washington Post reports that this shift on flavored vapes has been at the center of internal fights.
Leadership Ripple Effects
The same policy fight has already claimed another high-profile name. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary resigned earlier in the week after clashes with other officials over flavored e-cigarettes and related priorities. With exits from both the FDA and HHS, regulators and the department's communications team are under extra strain just as the administration presses ahead with a politically charged regulatory overhaul. CBS News reported on Makary's decision to step down.
What It Means For HHS
Danker served as Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, the agency's main point person for press strategy and public engagement, a role highlighted on HHS leadership materials. The department already has several senior jobs sitting empty, including the surgeon general and the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a situation critics say leaves HHS thinly staffed as it rolls out contentious policies. HHS lists Danker's title and portfolio.
Danker's exit underscores a broader split inside the administration between officials who argue that flavored products can be part of a harm-reduction strategy for adult smokers and those who warn they are a gateway for kids. The White House and HHS did not immediately respond to requests for comment. For now, the department is under pressure to quickly install a new public affairs chief who can stabilize messaging while the vape fight plays out in public.
