Tobacco Industry’s Role in U.S. Health Policy Grows, Report Finds
A recent report from Action on Smoking & Health (ASH) indicates that the tobacco industry’s influence over public health policymaking in the U.S. is on the rise.
According to ASH’s Tobacco Industry Interference Index 2025, shared with The Hill, the United States scored 89 out of 100 on the Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index, which assesses government responses to tobacco industry interference.
In this survey, the U.S. ranked 98th out of 100 countries analyzed.
“The scoring is based on 20 key indicators related to Article 5.3 of the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which emphasizes the need to protect public health from the tobacco industry’s vested interests,” stated Nichelle Gray-Lukagbadorj, ASH’s Manager of Engagement and Special Programs and the report’s lead author.
The study examines areas like transparency, conflicts of interest, government interactions with the tobacco industry, and general awareness.
“An 89 is a pretty bad score. It puts the U.S. on course to rank among the worst countries in our report yet again this year,” Gray-Lukagbadorj noted.
This score stands out, especially since the U.S. isn’t a major player in global tobacco use, ranking only 52nd worldwide, according to the CIA. Countries like China, Spain, and Russia have a higher tobacco prevalence.
In terms of transparency, the U.S. scored poorly, getting just 4 out of 5 in this category.
“The government fails to disclose its meetings and interactions with the tobacco industry as required by regulations,” the report explained.
Chris Bostic, ASH’s policy director, mentioned that while the tobacco industry’s connection with the federal government may be similar to that of other industries, the unique nature of tobacco products makes it a different case.
“The products of the tobacco industry are lethal when used as intended, so it’s essential to treat them differently from other industries,” Bostic conveyed to The Hill.
In the last year, lobbying by the tobacco industry has surged by 24%, likely in response to increasing anti-tobacco legislation.
“A significant worry for the tobacco industry is the growing number of jurisdictions implementing tobacco endgame laws that aim to phase out commercial tobacco sales entirely,” Bostic mentioned. “Currently, 23 jurisdictions in the U.S. are pursuing this, a notable increase from none just a few years ago. This poses a serious threat to the industry.”
To mitigate rising interference, ASH proposed enhancing awareness of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, increasing how long a lobbyist can serve in the executive branch, and involving more employees in lobbying roles.
“The HHS has claimed full compliance with the FCTC since it was enacted in 2004, which is clearly inaccurate,” Bostic asserted. “This isn’t limited to one administration; all have made this claim, and it’s regrettable. The FCTC provides a solid blueprint for reducing tobacco-related deaths and diseases.”
