Trump Directs FDA to Tackle Deceptive Drug Advertising
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump issued a memorandum directing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to intensify efforts against misleading drug advertisements on television and social media.
The FDA is set to send numerous warning letters and cease-and-desist orders to pharmaceutical companies involved in deceptive advertising practices, according to administration officials who spoke to reporters.
This memo emphasizes the need for better enforcement of existing regulations under federal food, drug, and cosmetics laws. These rules are designed to prevent drug companies from creating misleading impressions and to ensure a balanced presentation of both benefits and risks.
“Drug advertisements have really captivated the nation with prescription medications,” stated Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the director of health and human services. “Only by applying radical transparency can we break the cycle of excessive prescriptions that contribute to chronic health issues in the United States.”
FDA Commissioner Marty McCurry pointed out that pharmaceutical companies allocate up to 25% of their budgets for advertising, claiming that this money would be better spent on lowering drug prices for average Americans.
According to an official from the administration, this initiative represents a central responsibility of the FDA.
The recent action does, however, fall short of a prior commitment made by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during his campaign for Trump. In a call with reporters, officials described this effort as one of the most aggressive yet, mentioning that it is still within the legal boundaries and acknowledging past challenges from pharmaceutical firms regarding advertising regulations.
This marks the first significant enforcement strategy following the release of a 20-page report outlining about 130 policy priorities under the “Make America Healthy Again Movement.”
Historically, the FDA has faced criticism for lax enforcement of regulations intended to prevent deceptive advertising. In 2023, for instance, the FDA’s Prescription Drug Promotion Bureau only issued one enforcement letter, and in 2024, none at all. Officials mentioned that staffing issues have contributed to this decline.
A 2018 review revealed that while social media ads for top-selling drugs usually mention their benefits, they often fail to adequately convey potential side effects. There are concerns that pharmaceutical companies enjoy certain tax advantages, potentially due to the costs associated with drug advertising.
With the increasing prominence of drug advertisements on social media, it’s important to note that many influencers promote various medications without legally required disclosures.
The president’s memo also highlights concerns from some medical professionals who believe that consumer drug advertising disrupts the doctor-patient relationship. The U.S. and New Zealand are noted as the only countries allowing such advertisements to tout pharmaceutical products and their benefits.
