President Donald Trump has paved the way for more U.S. production of glyphosate with an executive order<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By I. Edwards HealthDay Reporter<\/b>
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MONDAY, Feb. 23, 2026 (HealthDay News) \u2014 President Donald Trump<\/a> has signed an executive order intended to increase U.S. production of the active ingredient in the common weedkiller Roundup<\/a>, and the decision has drawn criticism from activists who support him.<\/p>\n The order calls glyphosate critical to the nation\u2019s food supply and national security.<\/p>\n But critics say the move disregards long-standing health concerns linked to the chemical, including thousands of lawsuits claiming it raises the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma<\/a>.<\/p>\n Glyphosate is the main ingredient in Roundup. The weedkiller is made by Bayer, which acquired its original manufacturer, Monsanto, in 2018.<\/p>\n Bayer faces tens of thousands of lawsuits tied to the product.<\/p>\n Without admitting wrongdoing or liability, the company announced<\/a> a proposed $7.25 billion settlement last week to resolve many of those claims.<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s executive order has exposed rifts with his Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, which is led by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr<\/a>.<\/p>\n Kennedy previously worked on a legal team that won a $289 million judgment against Monsanto in 2018, The Washington Post<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n While running for president in 2024, Kennedy said glyphosate was “one of the likely culprits in America\u2019s chronic disease epidemic.” Since joining Trump\u2019s administration, however, he has largely avoided criticizing pesticide use.<\/p>\n A longtime Kennedy supporter warned that the executive order could alienate the same voters who supported Trump back in 2024.<\/p>\n \u201cWithout restricting and\/or banning glyphosate, we will not make America healthy again,\u201d Zen Honeycutt<\/a>, founder of the nonprofit Moms Across America and a longtime Kennedy supporter, told The Post.<\/em><\/p>\n The administration said the order is not meant to endorse a specific product. It also mentions the chemical elemental phosphorus, which is used in some military equipment.<\/p>\n White House spokesman Kush Desai<\/a> said the order is needed to build modern weapons systems and ensure enough food is produced in the U.S.<\/p>\n \u201cPresident Trump pledged to protect our country and Make America Healthy Again, and this Administration will never compromise on either priority,” Desai said.<\/p>\n The order relies on the Defense Production Act, a Cold War-era law that allows presidents to direct domestic industry.<\/p>\n Kennedy defended the decision, saying an immediate ban on glyphosate could hurt farmers.<\/p>\n \u201cRight now if you end glyphosate outright it would put out of business 80% of our farmers,” he said on a recent podcast.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not a good long-term solution,\u201d he said. \u201cThe issue is how do you transition off of it without putting farmers out of business?\u201d<\/p>\n U.S. and European regulators disagree on glyphosate\u2019s cancer risk.<\/p>\n The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says the chemical is \u201cnot likely to be carcinogenic to humans.\u201d The European Chemicals Agency committee reached similar conclusions.<\/p>\n The International Agency for Research on Cancer, however, has classified glyphosate as \u201cprobably carcinogenic.\u201d<\/p>\n Concerns grew after a scientific journal recently retracted a 2000 study that found glyphosate safe, citing evidence that Monsanto employees may have helped write the study.<\/p>\n Some MAHA activists say the executive order could shield chemical companies from lawsuits.<\/p>\n The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments this year in a Roundup case that could decide whether Bayer can be held liable in state courts.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is no pending ban or shortage of glyphosate,\u201d Zach Lahn<\/a>, an Iowa farmer and Republican candidate for governor, said. \u201cThere is only pending lawsuits for a foreign company that is causing harm to Americans. And now they have immunity \u2014 this must be reversed.\u201d<\/p>\n More information<\/strong><\/p>\n European Food Safety Authority has more on glyphosate<\/a>.<\/p>\n