If confirmed, Overton will inherit a CTP that's moving faster on product authorizations than at any point in the PMTA era. Here's what's already on the table — and what could accelerate under her watch:
Accelerated Authorization Push
The Wall Street Journal reported on September 23, 2026, that the Trump administration plans to announce in the coming days that it will revisit the 2021 rule that outlined scientific evidence requirements for new tobacco applications. The goal, according to people familiar with the matter, is to add "more flexibility for companies to get more products authorized" — potentially by simplifying requirements for scientific studies and speeding review times.
The 95 Authorized Products and Counting
As of September 2026, the FDA has authorized approximately 95 tobacco products from 11 companies, including:
- 45 e-cigarette / vaping products
- 30 nicotine pouch products
- 10 heated tobacco products
- 8 snus products
- 2 cigarette products
The second Trump administration has authorized multiple nicotine pouch products and allowed some to be marketed as less harmful for smokers than traditional cigarettes — a significant shift from the first term, when the FDA banned fruit-flavored vapes to curb teen use.
Industry Engagement
The Vapor Technology Association (VTA), an industry trade group, has been invited to meet with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — another signal that the current administration is willing to engage directly with the vaping industry on policy direction.
