Pesticide politics in 2026 In early 2026, pesticide regulation moved from a technical policy issue to the center of U.S. political and cultural battles, as Trump’s administration tied herbicide supply chains directly to national defense and food security. At the same time, a new farm bill draft and a wave of executive actions have triggered alarm among environmental and consumer‑health groups, who argue that Washington is quietly restructuring how—and whether—Americans can hold pesticide makers accountable. The February glyphosate order On February 17, 2026, Trump signed an executive order invoking the Defense Production Act to ensure an “adequate supply” of elemental phosphorus and glyphosate‑based herbicides, explicitly framing them as critical to national security and the stability of U.S. food supply chains. The order delegates sweeping authority to the Secretary of Agriculture to prioritize contracts and production for these chemicals, warning that disruptions could “gravely endanger” both America’s defense industrial base and agricultural productivity....