Advertisement
Advertise with us
sidenav

Senate Confirms Xavier Becerra as HHS Secretary

Advertisement
Advertise with us

President Biden’s choice to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) clinched Senate approval today by a single vote, 50-49. Becerra, the current state attorney general of California, received just one Republican vote, and no Democrats voted against him.

As HHS secretary, Becerra will oversee three agencies whose actions impact vaping: the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Also under Becerra’s purview is the massive Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which manages most of the country’s public healthcare programs. The HHS has a $1 trillion annual budget, the largest of any cabinet department.

As we reported in December, Becerra was something of an odd choice for HHS secretary. Before his stint as California’s AG, Becerra was a 12-term member of the House. With no background or expertise in healthcare policy, and a history of tough partisan politics, the Biden transition team was aware in advance that Senate approval for Becerra would be a challenge. (In fact, he wouldn’t have been confirmed if Republicans had won one of the two January runoff elections in Georgia and maintained their majority.)

During his time as California’s attorney general, Becerra was generally antagonistic to vaping, although not more than most Democratic politicians from that state. He supported a federal flavor ban, and said he would support an outright ban of online sales. Last year, he filed a brief in support of the California Assembly’s flavored tobacco product ban (including vapes) when that law was challenged by tobacco companies. (Attorneys general are expected to defend all state laws against challenges.)

In 2019, Becerra filed a lawsuit charging Juul Labs marketed and sold its products to minors—something several other states have also done. He also created a program that gave millions in grants to local schools and law enforcement to “educate” kids about vaping, which he said was popular because of misinformation propagated by “big tobacco companies.” However, Becerra also backed then-FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb’s 2017 plan to reduce nicotine in cigarettes, which was not exactly an anti-vaping position.

Many Washington observers expected Biden to choose New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, an acknowledged healthcare expert, and a popular choice with Hispanic Democrats (Becerra is also Hispanic). Lujan-Grisham would have been the best choice for vaping defenders too, having supported and signed a reasonable vaping bill in New Mexico that did not include a flavor ban.

While it’s impossible to predict with certainty, Becerra is probably unlikely to micromanage the FDA’s vaping regulation. In the near term, Becerra will be faced with coordinating the various HHS agencies’ response to the coronavirus crisis. That could happen, however, when Biden selects a permanent FDA commissioner. Biden filled that job with FDA veteran Janet Woodcock on an interim basis, but the President is thought to be considering ex-FDA deputy Josh Sharfstein—a staunch opponent of vaping—for the job.

Becerra succeeds Alex Azar, Donald Trump’s HHS secretary. Azar first pushed Trump to support a ban on flavored vaping products, then later promised a “streamlined” PMTA process that would allow small, independent vaping manufacturers a chance at approval—a promise that was not kept.

Image courtesy YouTube.

Advertisement
Advertise with us
Latest Reviews
Article preview image
Freemax REXA PRO & REXA SMART Review: Too Smart?

The Freemax REXA PRO and REXA SMART are highly advanced pod vapes, offering seemingly endless features, beautiful touchscreens, and new DUOMAX pods.

Wed Jul 30 2025
Article preview image
OXVA XLIM Pro 2 DNA Review: A Match Made in Heaven!

The OXVA XLIM Pro 2 DNA is powered by a custom-made Evolv DNA chipset, offering a Replay function and dry hit protection. Read our review to find out more.

Fri Jul 18 2025
Article preview image
SKE Bar Review: A Reusable Crystal Bar!

The SKE Bar is a 2 mL replaceable pod vape with a 500 mAh battery, a 1.2-ohm mesh coil, and 35 flavors to choose from in 2% nicotine.

Mon Jul 7 2025
Advertisement
Advertise with us
Latest Learn
vaping taxes
Vaping Taxes in the United States and Around the World

Because of declining cigarette sales, state governments in the U.S. and countries around the world are looking to vapor products as a new source of tax revenue.

Thu Jul 31 2025
How Old Do You Have to Be to Vape?
How Old Do You Have to Be to Vape?

The legal age to buy e-cigarettes and other vaping products varies around the world. The United States recently changed the legal minimum sales age to 21.

Tue Jul 1 2025
Where vaping is banned or restricted
Vape Bans: E-Cigarette Restrictions in the U.S. and Worldwide

A list of vaping product flavor bans and online sales bans in the United States, and sales and possession bans in other countries.

Fri Jul 4 2025
About Authors
Jim McDonald
844 posts

Smokers created vaping for themselves without help from the tobacco industry or anti-tobacco crusaders, and I believe vapers and the vaping industry have the right to continue innovating to give everyone who wants to use nicotine access to safe and attractive non-combustible options. My goal is to provide clear, honest information about vaping and the challenges nicotine consumers face from lawmakers, regulators, and brokers of disinformation. You can find me on Twitter @whycherrywhy

See author’s profile
Vaping360.com strives to be the world's most trusted resource for vapers and smokers. We take pride in our editorial integrity, accuracy, and the honesty of our writers.
Read more about us

Rely on Our Expertise

At Vaping360, we take pride in our deep expertise and years of experience in the vaping industry. Our dedicated team of professionals is committed to leveraging their extensive knowledge to meet your needs and exceed your expectations.

Authenticity

Genuine insights backed by thorough and exhaustive research and testing.

Reliability

Consistent, accurate information from the vaping industry experts.

Empowerment

Transparent and reliable content for confident and informed decision-making.

About us

Our mission is clear: to help people who smoke transition to low-risk alternatives and contribute to a smoke-free world. With each article we publish and each review we conduct, we're working towards this goal.

about-us-banner
product preview