Trump Boosts Domestic Glyphosate Production, Raising Health Concerns

MAHA advocates criticize move, citing cancer risks linked to Roundup weedkiller

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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President Donald Trump signed an executive order to increase domestic production of glyphosate, the active ingredient in the weedkiller Roundup. This decision has raised alarm among health advocates, including the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) group, who have long criticized the cancer risks associated with glyphosate. The order comes just a day after Bayer, Roundup's manufacturer, agreed to a $7 billion settlement for lawsuits linking the product to cancer.

Why it matters

The move to boost glyphosate production contradicts efforts by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and others to hold Monsanto/Bayer accountable for the potential health risks of Roundup. It also raises concerns about the influence of corporate interests over public health priorities.

The details

Trump's order invokes the Defense Production Act to ramp up glyphosate production, claiming it is necessary to protect American agricultural productivity and food security. However, numerous studies have linked glyphosate to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and other health issues. In 2018, Kennedy helped win a $289 million lawsuit against Monsanto on behalf of a plaintiff diagnosed with lymphoma after years of Roundup exposure.

  • On February 18, 2026, President Trump signed the executive order to boost domestic glyphosate production.
  • On the previous day, February 17, 2026, Bayer agreed to a $7 billion settlement for tens of thousands of lawsuits linking Roundup to cancer.

The players

President Donald Trump

The President of the United States who signed the executive order to increase domestic glyphosate production.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The Health Secretary who has been a vocal critic of Monsanto/Bayer and the cancer risks associated with Roundup.

Monsanto

The manufacturer of the weedkiller Roundup, which contains the active ingredient glyphosate.

Bayer

The parent company of Monsanto that recently agreed to a $7 billion settlement for lawsuits linking Roundup to cancer.

Dewayne Johnson

A plaintiff who won a $289 million lawsuit against Monsanto after being diagnosed with lymphoma following years of Roundup exposure in his job as a pest control manager.

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What they’re saying

“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., Health Secretary

What’s next

The judge in the Bayer/Monsanto lawsuits will continue to oversee the $7 billion settlement agreement reached with plaintiffs who claim Roundup caused their cancer.

The takeaway

This decision highlights the ongoing tension between public health concerns and corporate interests, as well as the influence of politics on environmental and health policy. It raises questions about whether the potential risks of glyphosate exposure are being adequately addressed, especially for vulnerable populations like farmworkers.