Trump Issues Executive Order to Boost Controversial Herbicide Glyphosate, Sparking MAHA Backlash

The move aims to ensure adequate supply of glyphosate, a key ingredient in Roundup, but faces criticism from the Republican-aligned Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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President Trump issued an executive order this week that seeks to boost the controversial herbicide glyphosate, a key ingredient in the widely used weedkiller Roundup. The order describes glyphosate as 'a cornerstone of this Nation's agricultural productivity and rural economy' and directs the Agriculture Secretary to ensure an adequate supply, as well as provide 'immunity' to producers under the Defense Production Act. This move has drawn ire from the MAHA movement, a Republican-aligned group that is critical of pesticides and vaccines.

Why it matters

The executive order highlights the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration's support for the agricultural industry and the growing MAHA movement's concerns over the health and environmental impacts of pesticides like glyphosate. This clash could have political implications, with MAHA activists warning that the GOP's embrace of pesticides could cost them votes in the upcoming midterm elections.

The details

Trump's order states that '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.' It directs the Agriculture Secretary to take steps to ensure an adequate supply of glyphosate-based herbicides and provides liability protections to producers under the Defense Production Act. The move was met with backlash from the MAHA movement, which is linked to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and is critical of pesticides and vaccines. MAHA activists, including 'glyphosate girl' Kelly Ryerson, condemned the order as betraying the movement's voters and standing in opposition to its goals.

  • The executive order was issued on Wednesday, February 19, 2026.

The players

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who issued the executive order to boost the use of the controversial herbicide glyphosate.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The Health and Human Services Secretary who is linked to the Republican-aligned MAHA movement, which is critical of pesticides and vaccines.

Kelly Ryerson

An activist who goes by the moniker of 'glyphosate girl' online and is a prominent critic of the use of glyphosate.

Lori Ann Burd

The environmental health program director at the Center for Biological Diversity, who criticized Trump's order as a 'sickening love letter' to pesticide companies.

David Murphy

The former finance director for Kennedy's presidential campaign, who predicted that the GOP's embrace of pesticides could cost them between 10 and 20 House seats in the upcoming midterm elections.

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What they’re saying

“This move betrays the very MAHA voters who put this administration in power. It stands in direct opposition to the President's original promise to address the contribution of pesticides to chronic disease.”

— Kelly Ryerson, Activist (The Hill)

“This is a sickening love letter from Trump to the largest pesticide companies in the world. It's more proof that Trump doesn't care at all about Americans' health. While he's pandering to chemical companies the rest of the country, especially those who've been poisoned by pesticides, is rightfully asking 'what about us?'”

— Lori Ann Burd, Environmental Health Program Director, Center for Biological Diversity (The Hill)

“They should be s—ting their pants. MAHA is what put them over the top in the 2024 election…This will end Republicans' control of [the] House.”

— David Murphy, Former Finance Director, Kennedy's Presidential Campaign (The Hill)

“Donald Trump's Executive Order puts America first where it matters most — our defense readiness and our food supply. 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.”

— Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (The Hill)

What’s next

The Democratic Party's X account has criticized Kennedy's past statements on the issue, and the Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments in April on whether federal laws preempt state-level failure-to-warn suits related to glyphosate.

The takeaway

This executive order highlights the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration's support for the agricultural industry and the growing MAHA movement's concerns over the health and environmental impacts of pesticides. The clash could have significant political implications, with MAHA activists warning that the GOP's embrace of pesticides could cost them votes in the upcoming midterm elections.