President Donald Trump signed an executive order this week aimed at boosting access to a widely used herbicide, arguing that national security and food-supply stability must take precedence as the country safeguards critical agricultural inputs.
The order focuses in part on glyphosate, a key ingredient in the commonly used weedkiller Roundup. While some supporters of the “Make America Healthy Again” agenda have voiced opposition to the chemical, Trump framed the move as a necessary step to protect America’s defense readiness and food production.
“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,” Trump wrote in the executive order.
The order describes glyphosate as “a cornerstone of this Nation’s agricultural productivity and rural economy,” underscoring its role in modern farming operations. Glyphosate-based herbicides are widely used across American agriculture, and the administration’s action seeks to maintain reliable access amid broader concerns about supply chains and strategic vulnerabilities.
At the same time, glyphosate has been the subject of growing public debate. Critics have raised concerns about potential health risks, including possible carcinogenic effects. Earlier this week, Bayer — which owns Monsanto, the manufacturer of Roundup — agreed to a $7.25 billion settlement over claims that the company failed to warn consumers that the product could cause cancer.
Despite the litigation, the Environmental Protection Agency has previously determined there is “insufficient evidence to conclude that glyphosate plays a role in any human diseases.” However, a federal court ordered the agency several years ago to revisit that conclusion, adding another layer of scrutiny to the ongoing debate.
The executive order drew criticism from some in the MAHA movement, who have expressed skepticism toward agricultural and pharmaceutical chemical companies. For those supporters, the decision appeared to clash with their broader push to reduce reliance on certain chemicals in food production.
Still, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. publicly backed the president’s move, signaling that the administration sees the issue through a national security lens.
“Donald Trump’s Executive Order puts America first where it matters most — our defense readiness and our food supply,” Kennedy said in a statement following the announcement.
Kennedy emphasized that protecting the country’s strategic interests must remain the top priority.
“We must safeguard America’s national security first, because all of our priorities depend on it. When hostile actors control critical inputs, they weaken our security. By expanding domestic production, we close that gap and protect American families,” he added.
The order’s provisions include protections for manufacturers, a point that has already sparked pushback on Capitol Hill. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., announced plans to introduce legislation aimed at undoing portions of the executive order, specifically those shielding manufacturers from liability.
As debate intensifies, the administration is making clear that it views the availability of key agricultural chemicals not simply as a farming issue, but as a matter tied directly to national defense and food security — priorities it argues are essential to the health and safety of the American people.
About Post Author
