President Donald Trump invoked the Defense Production Act on Wednesday to bolster domestic production of glyphosate-based herbicides and elemental phosphorus, citing national security concerns, according to a White House fact sheet.
The executive order directs Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to prioritize and secure U.S. Supplies of the two materials, deemed essential for both agriculture and military readiness. The order also grants legal immunity to domestic producers complying with federal directives and authorizes the USDA to direct production and control distribution if necessary, as reported by the Progressive Farmer.
“The threat of scarcity for either phosphorus or glyphosate would leave the U.S. Vulnerable,” the White House stated. Rollins will consult with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to determine nationwide priorities and allocation of resources, and will issue rules to implement the order.
The move comes as Bayer, the manufacturer of Roundup, faces significant legal challenges related to claims that glyphosate causes cancer. The company recently proposed a $7.25 billion settlement to resolve those lawsuits. However, a German newspaper, “taz,” reported that the settlement is not an admission of the herbicide’s harmfulness, but rather a response to concerns that the Trump administration’s policies may undermine the legal standing of plaintiffs.
According to “taz,” lawyers representing the plaintiffs fear that a recent case accepted by the Supreme Court, initiated by Bayer, could strip states of the right to pursue claims against the company, even if the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to deem glyphosate safe. The International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization, has classified glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic,” citing tumor development in animals exposed to the chemical.
The executive order also aims to protect domestic suppliers from financial or regulatory pressures that could lead to business failures, ensuring the “corporate viability” of producers of both elemental phosphorus and glyphosate-based herbicides. Rollins is instructed to ensure that any regulations do not jeopardize the companies’ ability to continue operating, according to reporting from Farm Policy News.
Bayer has indicated that glyphosate shortages are not anticipated outside of the U.S. As a result of the order, according to Producer.com. The White House fact sheet emphasized that the action is intended to “ensure domestic production of elemental phosphorus and glyphosate-based herbicides, the loss of which would cripple critical supply chains.”
