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For years as an environmental lawyer, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. crusaded against glyphosate, the controversial herbicide ingredient found in Monsanto’s Roundup weedkiller. He even won a landmark case arguing that the product contributed to his client’s cancer. Now, as the nation’s top health official in the Trump administration, Kennedy faces scrutiny for supporting a presidential executive order aimed at boosting glyphosate production.
In a lengthy social media statement Sunday evening, Kennedy acknowledged that pesticides are “toxic by design” but defended Trump’s executive order as necessary for agricultural stability and national security. “President Trump did not build our current system — he inherited it,” Kennedy wrote. “I support President Trump’s Executive Order to bring agricultural chemical production back to the United States and end our near-total reliance on adversarial nations.”
The executive order is intended to protect domestic production of elemental phosphorus, used in military devices and to manufacture glyphosate-based herbicides. It also grants limited legal immunity to manufacturers following federal directives, a move that has angered many of Kennedy’s supporters in the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement.
MAHA activists are growing increasingly vocal about what they view as a betrayal of their core values. “It’s been a year. Not a single thing has been done by the EPA to reduce our children’s and families exposure to pesticides,” responded Zen Honeycutt, founder of Moms Across America and a prominent MAHA activist. “We love you Bobby but this administration needs to keep their word.”
Critics argue that Trump’s order is part of a broader pattern favoring pesticide manufacturers. In December, the Justice Department backed Monsanto owner Bayer in a Supreme Court case that could limit future liability for Roundup. House Republicans have also proposed legislation that would make it harder to sue pesticide companies for failing to warn about product dangers.
Kennedy has repeatedly stated his belief that glyphosate causes cancer, most recently in January. While several studies support this contention, the Environmental Protection Agency maintains that the chemical is “not likely to be carcinogenic to humans” when used as directed. Bayer continues to defend its products, stating they “have been tested extensively, approved by regulators and used around the globe for more than 50 years.”
In his defense, Kennedy asserts he is working with the Department of Agriculture and EPA to reduce reliance on harmful chemicals. The Trump administration launched a $700 million regenerative agriculture pilot program in December to help farmers adopt practices that improve soil health, water quality, and productivity.
However, veteran environmental advocates remain skeptical about substantive change. “If there is a big plan, a big MAHA-style plan to move in the direction of detoxifying agriculture from these chemicals, where is it?” questioned Ken Cook, head of the nonprofit Environmental Working Group. Cook accused Kennedy of adopting the pesticide industry’s messaging: “He’s jumped onto their message square and is dancing on it.”
The EPA has promised a forthcoming MAHA agenda addressing issues like forever chemicals, plastic pollution, food quality, and lead pipes. On Friday, officials announced enforcement of a 10-year deadline for lead pipe removal to improve drinking water safety. EPA press secretary Brigit Hirsch stated this agenda is “in the final stages” and will reaffirm the agency’s commitment to science and transparency on pesticides.
The political implications of this rift are significant. Kennedy’s MAHA coalition—a diverse group including anti-vaccine activists, environmental defenders, and healthy food advocates—represents a crucial voting bloc for Republicans seeking to maintain their narrow congressional majorities.
Democrats are watching this rupture closely, seeing potential opportunity. Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey called the executive order “a slap in the face to the thousands of Americans who have gotten cancer from glyphosate,” arguing that the administration prioritizes “chemical company profits” over public health.
Democratic strategist Anjan Mukherjee expects more left-leaning candidates to emphasize to MAHA supporters “how this administration has failed them.” However, such recruitment efforts may prove challenging given Kennedy’s success in championing other MAHA priorities, including overhauling childhood vaccine recommendations and reforming the FDA’s approach to artificial food dyes.
David Mansdoerfer, a former Department of Health and Human Services official during Trump’s first term who now advises several MAHA groups, framed the choice starkly: “MAHA has a choice this election season. Support the Trump administration and continue to have a voice in Washington or stay at home and watch their federal agenda come to a halt.”
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11 Comments
I have mixed feelings about RFK Jr.’s support for this order. On one hand, I understand the desire for domestic production and supply chain resilience. But pesticides raise serious environmental and health concerns that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Agreed, this is a nuanced issue that requires balancing multiple priorities. I hope there is thorough public discourse and scientific analysis before any major policy changes.
This is a tricky situation – RFK Jr. has been a vocal critic of pesticides, but now he’s backing an order to boost their production. I can see both the agricultural stability and national security arguments, but it’s a concerning shift in his position.
It will be important to closely examine the details and potential consequences of this executive order. Pesticides are a complex and contentious issue.
This is an interesting and unexpected development. RFK Jr. has been a long-time critic of pesticides, so his backing of an order to boost their production is quite a shift. I’m curious to learn more about the national security and agricultural stability arguments behind this move.
Pesticides are a hot-button issue and it’s surprising to see RFK Jr. take this stance, given his past advocacy. I’m curious to learn more about the national security rationale and potential tradeoffs involved.
This is an interesting development. RFK Jr. has long been a critic of pesticides, so it’s noteworthy that he’s now backing an order to boost their domestic production. I wonder how this aligns with his previous environmental stances.
RFK Jr.’s support for this executive order on pesticides is certainly a departure from his past advocacy. While I can see the rationale, I also have concerns about the potential environmental and health consequences. This is an issue that deserves careful, nuanced consideration.
It’s thought-provoking to see RFK Jr.’s position on pesticides shift like this. I can understand the arguments around agricultural stability and national security, but the environmental and health impacts of pesticides are also very real. This is a complex issue without easy answers.
Interesting to see RFK Jr.’s stance evolve on pesticides. It’s a complex issue with valid concerns on both sides. I’m curious to learn more about the national security rationale behind the executive order.
Agreed, the national security angle is intriguing. It would be helpful to understand the specific risks and vulnerabilities that this order aims to address.