Trump Executive Order Invoked National Security to Protect Glyphosate Production and White Phosphorus Munitions
A Trump administration executive order cited national security concerns to compel production of the herbicide Roundup and protect the U.S. supply of white phosphorus munitions.
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An executive order issued by the Trump administration last month invoked national security provisions to protect the production of glyphosate, the active ingredient in the herbicide Roundup, while also safeguarding the United States' supply of white phosphorus munitions. The order compelled continued production of both substances despite ongoing health and human rights concerns.
The executive order addressed glyphosate production amid a series of lawsuits linking the widely-used weedkiller to cancer. Health activists who have campaigned for restrictions on the product expressed concern about the administration's action to mandate its continued production. Glyphosate is manufactured by several companies and remains one of the most commonly used herbicides in American agriculture.
The same order also protected white phosphorus, a controversial incendiary munition that ignites upon contact with oxygen and burns at extremely high temperatures. The substance can be delivered through artillery shells, bombs, and rockets, and its intense heat can ignite buildings and other structures. The United States maintains white phosphorus as part of its military arsenal, and the executive order ensures continued access to what officials described as the country's only domestic supply.
White phosphorus has drawn international scrutiny due to its potential civilian impact. Human Rights Watch recently accused Israel of unlawfully using white phosphorus munitions over residential areas in southern Lebanon, highlighting ongoing debates about the weapon's deployment in populated areas. The chemical substance's military applications include creating smoke screens and marking targets, though its incendiary properties have raised humanitarian concerns.
The executive order represents an unusual pairing of agricultural and military production under national security authorities. Previous administrations have used similar emergency provisions for arms transfers, including the Biden administration's expedited shipments to Ukraine and Israel, and the first Trump administration's $8.1 billion munitions sale to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates during tensions with Iran.
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Health activists and environmental groups oppose the executive order's protection of glyphosate production, citing ongoing lawsuits linking Roundup to cancer and calling for stronger restrictions on the herbicide. Human rights organizations like Human Rights Watch have criticized the use of white phosphorus munitions, arguing they cause unnecessary civilian harm when used in populated areas.
National security officials defend the executive order as necessary to maintain domestic production capabilities for both agricultural and defense needs. Military supporters argue that white phosphorus serves legitimate tactical purposes including smoke screens and target marking, and that maintaining domestic production capacity protects against supply chain vulnerabilities.
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