U.S. News: How the MAHA Pesticide Fight Stalled --- Trump backs farmers over the coalition that's seeking fewer chemicals in food

 

Is herbicide glyphosate damaging for human health?

 

Glyphosate, the active ingredient in many herbicides, is a subject of intense scientific and regulatory debate regarding its safety. While major regulatory bodies like the US EPA and European Food Safety Authority have concluded it is unlikely to be carcinogenic to humans at authorized usage levels, other agencies and studies suggest potential health risks. It is officially classified as a "probable human carcinogen" by the The World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

 

Key findings on the health effects of glyphosate include:

 

    Cancer Concern: IARC classified glyphosate as a "Group 2A" probable human carcinogen in 2015. However, the EPA maintains that it is not a carcinogen.

    Acute Toxicity: High doses (usually from intentional ingestion) can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and irritation to the skin, eyes, throat, and nose.

 

    Chronic Health Effects: Studies have associated long-term exposure with potential issues, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, kidney damage, reproductive issues, and disruption of the gut microbiome. Such inflammation signs could increase probability of cancer. Glyphosate induces oxidative stress, which causes DNA damage and inflammatory responses, potentially leading to diseases like non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

 

    Childhood Exposure Risks: Research shows that childhood exposure is linked to metabolic disorders and liver inflammation in early adulthood.

    Exposure Routes: It is commonly found in the environment, with detection in the urine of the general population.

 

Regulatory views are mixed, with the EPA stating there are no risks of concern to human health when used according to label instructions, while others call for stricter regulations or bans.

 

“WASHINGTON -- In a battle that spilled into the open last week, President Trump faced conflicting advice from two core constituencies: farmers and those in his Make America Healthy Again coalition.

 

Seed and pesticide companies, and farmer-trade groups, have been lobbying the administration to keep certain pesticides on shelves or protect them from legal liability.

 

Meanwhile, MAHA figures have urged Trump to reduce the country's reliance on pesticides such as glyphosate, the key ingredient in the world's most popular weedkiller.

 

On Wednesday, Trump gave the farm industry a victory: He set an executive action designating glyphosate herbicides and phosphorus, a popular fertilizer, as critical to national defense. White House officials said the president saw it as crucial that the U.S. has a supply of phosphorus and isn't reliant on China for glyphosate if U.S. production were ever curtailed.

 

But his decision has left many of his MAHA supporters demoralized. Some are starting to question their future support for Trump -- and whether they will back Republicans in the midterm elections.

 

"Trump just destroyed his trust with MAHA by ensuring availability of glyphosate as a national security asset," said Zen Honeycutt, founder of Moms Across America, which advocates for removing pesticides in food.

 

The decision Wednesday was the latest sign the MAHA push against pesticides has stalled. Tensions between the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin and MAHA activists hit a high point recently. Zeldin this month approved the herbicide dicamba for farmers to use on certain crops and rolled back regulations on forever chemicals. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s bid to label pesticides as a potential cause of health woes prompted pushback from some White House and agency officials last year, The Wall Street Journal previously reported.

 

While the order Wednesday has no immediate effect on herbicide or fertilizer production, it signals the administration sees glyphosate as critical to farming, industry officials say. The order gives the Secretary of Agriculture authority to ensure an adequate supply and production of glyphosate and phosphorus, citing the Defense Production Act.

 

"It feels like MAHA is going through a breakup, or just found out our husband was having an affair," said Alex Clark, one of Turning Point USA's biggest stars and a prominent figure in the MAHA movement. She questioned if Republicans had just lost the midterm elections because of the executive order.

 

White House officials said the move reflected a strategic priority for the country and wasn't an endorsement of any products. The officials said the administration supports MAHA ideals, such as improving soil health.

 

"This action strengthens our national security and ends America's decadeslong reliance on foreign imports and supply chains. This is America First in action," White House spokesman Kush Desai said. On X, Desai posted that promoting domestic phosphorus production was also needed for "semiconductors, radar, sensors, batteries, and other weapons systems."” [1]

 

1. U.S. News: How the MAHA Pesticide Fight Stalled --- Trump backs farmers over the coalition that's seeking fewer chemicals in food. Andrews, Natalie; Thomas, Patrick; Siddiqui, Sabrina.  Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y.. 23 Feb 2026: A6.