NC anti-tobacco funding slashed as CDC shuts down Office on Smoking and HealthLuciana Perez Uribe Guinassi, The News & Observer, May 16, 2025. North Carolina has lost its federal funding for tobacco prevention and control, a cut that state health officials say will limit services, lead to furloughs and stall efforts to reduce smoking and related health risks and deaths across the state. The cut stems from the Trump administration's closure earlier this year of the CDC's Office on Smoking and Health, which had supported state tobacco programs — including North Carolina's — since 1998. [5/17/2025 LinkedIn post: "Hard to imagine but the NC Tobacco Prevention and Control Branch team (9 staff) was all furloughed starting today due to stoppage of federal funding. Led by two incredible public health leaders and legends with decades of experience, Sally Herndon and Jim Martin, this team helped bring NC smokefree restaurants, tobacco free schools, the NC Quitline and the lowest smoking rates documented for adults and youth. For every $1 invested on prevention $55 was saved by state in future tobacco-related costs. . . ."]