President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday to increase the production of controversial glyphosate-based herbicides and to grant manufacturers immunity, citing national security concerns.
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“There is no direct one-for-one chemical alternative to glyphosate-based herbicides. Lack of access to glyphosate-based herbicides would critically jeopardize agricultural productivity, adding pressure to the domestic food system, and may result in a transition of cropland to other uses due to low productivity,” said President Trump in his order.
“Ensuring an adequate supply of elemental phosphorus and glyphosate-based herbicides is thus crucial to the national security and defense, including food-supply security, which is essential to protecting the health and safety of Americans,” he added.
The order has the potential to drive a wedge between the President and Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy, who has previously campaigned against glyphosate use as part of his “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) agenda.
“The herbicide Glyphosate is one of the likely culprits in America’s chronic disease epidemic. Much more widely used here than in Europe. Shockingly, much of our exposure comes from its use as a desiccant on wheat, not as an herbicide. From there it goes straight into our bodies. My USDA will ban that practice,” said Secretary Kennedy in June 2024, shortly before he ended his presidential campaign and endorsed Trump.
The executive order focuses on two primary industrial products: elemental phosphorus and glyphosate-based herbicide.
According to the White House, elemental phosphorus production is essential for national security because it is a component in numerous military devices, including smoke, illumination, and incendiary devices, as well as semiconductors, which are used in various military applications.
Elemental phosphorus is also an essential precursor to glyphosate-based herbicides.
The president argued in the order that glyphosate herbicides are essential to U.S. food security and claimed that any regulations on the herbicide could lead to farms shutting down and harm domestic food production.
Currently, only one U.S. manufacturer, Monsanto, produces elemental phosphorus and glyphosate-based herbicides, and, according to Trump, that company does not produce enough to meet U.S. needs.
The order delegates Defense Production Act powers to the Secretary of Agriculture to require manufacturers to prioritize fulfilling contracts related to the materials, and to ensure the U.S. has the facilities necessary to increase production to meet the nation’s needs.
It also grants immunity from liability for actions taken by companies producing the products in compliance with the President’s order.
While President Trump framed his order in terms of national security and the practical need to keep American farms in business, his order explicitly pushing for increased glyphosate herbicide production strikes a blow at Kennedy’s MAHA agenda.
Glyphosate herbicides have long been a target of Kennedy, who has raised concerns that they could be a cause of cancer and hormonal issues.
Even after Kennedy endorsed Trump’s presidential bid, he promised that he would work with the president to evaluate the harms caused by glyphosate, including potential fertility issues.
President Trump’s order does not mention potential harms caused by the herbicide, though a White House fact sheet expressed a willingness to consider alternatives for the future while maintaining that glyphosate use is essential for current food production.
The administration continues to support research and investment in next-generation crop protection technologies, but ensuring a stable supply of existing critical inputs remains essential to safeguarding food security and national defense.
