A Supreme Court case and a bill under congressional consideration this week will once again test the relationship between the Republican Party and the "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) movement. The alliance nearly fractured in February over the herbicide glyphosate.
The Supreme Court will hear arguments on Monday in a case deciding whether federal law preempts state-level lawsuits alleging that glyphosate, the active ingredient in Bayer's Roundup herbicide, causes cancer. Concurrently, the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to debate the Farm Bill this week, a comprehensive agricultural policy package containing new protections for the chemical.
The Supreme Court debate and the Farm Bill will place the MAHA movement in direct opposition to President Donald Trump and the majority of Republicans in Congress.
In February, Trump signed an executive order boosting domestic glyphosate production, creating tensions that required intervention from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to manage. With less than seven months until the 2026 midterm elections and Trump's approval ratings declining, maintaining this political coalition is critical for Republicans striving to preserve their narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress.
"The past few months have been incredibly difficult because we are under attack from the executive, judicial, and legislative branches simultaneously," said MAHA advocate Kelly Ryerson, known as "Glyphosate Girl."
"The executive order, combined with the government defending Bayer at the Supreme Court, is truly unforgivable," Ryerson stated. "It shows a vast disconnect between the administration's understanding of MAHA's core concerns and reality."
The White House currently stands firmly with glyphosate manufacturers.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which regulates pesticides and herbicides, does not classify glyphosate as a carcinogen and does not require cancer risk warnings on its labels. Furthermore, the proposed legislation stipulates that no entity can be penalized or held liable for "failure to comply with additional or different labeling/packaging requirements beyond those approved by the EPA."
House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson, a Republican from Pennsylvania, who is leading the Farm Bill effort, described MAHA supporters dissatisfied with the bill's language as "emotionally driven and needing to take time to read the full bill." Thompson argued that the bill preserves states' ability to modify labels after receiving EPA approval.
"This bill is solely about labeling and ensuring labels are based on the highest scientific standards," he said. "If a state wants to add additional label provisions, it simply needs to go through the EPA process, and it will be reflected on the label."
When asked to respond to Thompson's comments, Ryerson said, "It is deeply offensive to be called emotional when we are simply trying to make people healthier." She pointed out that Thompson's bill effectively includes a liability shield.
"I'd also challenge him: if he's willing to debate the actual content of the bill one-on-one, I'm ready, because he is lying. This is fundamentally a liability protection act for pesticide companies," she stated.
Republican support for glyphosate presents an opportunity for Democrats to appeal to the MAHA movement.
"The White House's position is its position, and we have the Supreme Court case and the Farm Bill fight. I think this will create a rift that's difficult to paper over," said Maine Democratic Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, an ally on some MAHA causes.
"Many people excited by MAHA's ideas haven't been politically involved before; they aren't staunch Republican voters but are looking at who genuinely advocates for these issues," Pingree added.
Ryerson agreed, stating the MAHA movement is "looking for one or more champions—Kennedy was and is one." She warned that growing dissatisfaction could lead MAHA supporters to abstain from voting in elections.
"What both parties should be wary of is that MAHA supporters' discontent might not lead them to vote for Democrats, but rather not to vote at all," she said.
Pingree will join Ryerson at a rally before the Supreme Court arguments, calling on the Court to uphold individuals' right to sue. Kentucky Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, who is assisting Pingree in proposing an amendment to remove pesticide-related provisions from the Farm Bill, will also attend.
The White House appears aware of the risks. Earlier this month, it invited a group of MAHA advocates to meet with senior administration officials to demonstrate efforts on related issues.
Ryerson, who attended the meeting, described the talks as productive, allowing advocates to voice grievances directly to officials. However, she cautioned that this might not be sufficient to keep MAHA within the "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) coalition.
"My sense is that the administration is taking these concerns seriously," Ryerson said. "But if the Supreme Court rules in favor of Bayer, the responsibility lies entirely with this administration, because this case should never have reached the Supreme Court in the first place."