Trump Names Pastor Scott CDC Tobacco Adviser

President Donald Trump has appointed Pastor Darrell Scott, a longtime ally and founder of the New Spirit Revival Center, as an adviser for tobacco health issues on the CDC’s Advisory Committee to the Director. The move positions Scott to influence public health outreach for underserved communities through faith-based networks and is framed as delivering on a campaign promise to reduce tobacco-related harm. Reported rationale emphasizes Scott’s understanding of hard-to-reach communities and his ability to mobilize people to implement targeted, results-driven initiatives, potentially shifting away from traditional nationwide campaigns. The administration’s stance comes amid a broader context of a more flexible approach to tobacco and nicotine products, with references to recent FDA actions and regulatory pivots. Critics and observers note that the appointment signals a strategic pivot toward community-level intervention and a possible reliance on trusted surrogates to navigate a downsized federal public health apparatus. Overall, the stories converge on a Trump-led effort to address tobacco health issues through a faith-based, locally grounded strategy.