The MAHA movement is rallying against the Trump administration’s support for glyphosate, a widely-used herbicide known by the brand name Roundup. This situation highlights a clash between health advocacy and pesticide industry interests.
Before this development, glyphosate faced criticism due to its association with cancer. The World Health Organization concluded that glyphosate is “probably carcinogenic.” Despite these concerns, the Trump administration issued an executive order supporting its production.
Now, Bayer, which acquired Monsanto, has agreed to pay over $12 billion in legal settlements related to glyphosate. In California alone, 266,000 pounds of glyphosate were applied in state forests in 2023. The Forest Service plans to spray glyphosate on 10,000 acres of public land in Lassen starting in spring 2026.
Environmental advocacy groups are engaged in legal battles with the Trump administration over toxic chemical regulations. Critics like Vani Hari argue that you cannot claim to care about health while protecting poison. David Murphy called it appalling that the administration supports pesticide manufacturers.
The amount of glyphosate sprayed in California’s state forests has increased nearly five times over the past two decades. This rise raises alarms about environmental health and safety. The EPA has also weakened protections against air pollutants and rolled back drinking water standards under the current administration.
Experts warn that this trend poses risks not only to human health but also to ecosystems. The EPA has lost hundreds of scientists and dismantled the office responsible for independent research on toxic chemicals. Critics argue that this undermines proper pesticide regulation.
As the debate continues, Bayer maintains that its herbicide is safe when used as directed. However, the ongoing protests signal a growing unease among health advocates and environmentalists regarding pesticide use.
