Trump Order Shields Glyphosate, Splitting MAHA
Order invoked Defense Production Act to boost domestic glyphosate and phosphorus production, prompting backlash from MAHA supporters and raising questions about ongoing Roundup litigation.
Overview
President Donald Trump signed an executive order invoking the Defense Production Act to boost domestic production of glyphosate-based herbicides and elemental phosphorus.
The order tasks the agriculture secretary with guaranteeing domestic supply and extends legal protections to manufacturers, and it followed a proposed $7.25 billion settlement by Bayer for Roundup claims.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. endorsed the order in a statement, while MAHA supporters including fitness influencer Jillian Michaels and Moms Across America condemned it as 'devastating' and 'outrageous'.
Glyphosate was classified as a probable carcinogen by WHO in 2015, two large meta-analyses linked exposure to higher cancer risk with one estimating a 41% increase for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and plaintiffs filed over 170,000 suits.
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie introduced a bill he says would undo the order, and Bayer's proposed $7.25 billion settlement and existing litigation remain unresolved.
Analysis
Analysis unavailable for this viewpoint.
FAQ
The order invokes the Defense Production Act to prioritize domestic production of elemental phosphorus and glyphosate-based herbicides, delegates authority to the Secretary of Agriculture for allocation and contracts, and extends liability protections to manufacturers.[1]
Glyphosate is essential for agriculture to maintain crop yields and food security, while phosphorus is critical for military technologies, semiconductors, and batteries; U.S. relies heavily on imports, risking supply disruptions from foreign actors.[2]
Glyphosate, the key ingredient in Roundup, was classified as a probable carcinogen by WHO in 2015, linked to higher non-Hodgkin lymphoma risk in meta-analyses, and faces over 170,000 lawsuits against Bayer with a proposed $7.25 billion settlement.[story][6]
MAHA supporters like Jillian Michaels and Moms Across America called it 'devastating' and 'outrageous'; RFK Jr. endorsed it; Rep. Thomas Massie introduced a bill to undo it; environmental groups criticize liability shields and pollution risks.[story][7]
It extends legal protections and liability shields under the Defense Production Act to manufacturers, potentially complicating accountability in existing lawsuits, though Bayer's $7.25 billion settlement remains unresolved.[story][6]
