President Trump Appoints Pastor Darrell Scott as CDC Tobacco Health Adviser

President Donald Trump has appointed Pastor Darrell Scott, leader of New Spirit Revival Center Ministries in Ohio, to serve as a tobacco health adviser on the Advisory Committee to the Director at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The President described Scott as a respected faith leader and advocate for underserved communities, noting that the pastor understands the impact of tobacco-related diseases on American families.

Scott, who previously served on the National Diversity Coalition for Trump, enters the role amid ongoing debates regarding federal public health policy. While the administration emphasizes the need to address tobacco's toll on vulnerable populations, critics have expressed concern over recent changes to federal health initiatives. Former CDC director Dr. Tom Frieden has characterized recent organizational shifts as beneficial to the tobacco industry, while other observers point to the discontinuation of long-running anti-smoking campaigns and the recent authorization of new nicotine products as significant changes in the national approach to tobacco control.