The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission, established by Executive Order from President Trump, poses significant challenges to agriculture and forestry in the United States. As the Commission prepares its initial report, due by May 24, we urgently need your help to ensure that science, rather than misinformation, guides its recommendations, particularly concerning pesticide use.
Chaired by Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and comprising key figures such as Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, the MAHA Commission was created to advise the President on addressing the growing childhood chronic disease crisis. However, some within the movement are misrepresenting the role of pesticides in public health, suggesting without credible evidence that they contribute to rising childhood diseases.
Pesticides, which play a crucial role in ensuring a stable and affordable food supply, are among the most scrutinized substances in the world. Before any pesticide is permitted for use in the U.S., it undergoes a rigorous evaluation process by the EPA, ensuring that it poses no harm to children or vulnerable populations. To date, no scientific evidence has linked regulated pesticide use to chronic childhood diseases.
If the Commission moves to restrict pesticide use without a scientific basis, it risks politicizing vital agricultural tools. Such restrictions could increase production costs, force some producers out of business, and undermine consumer trust in our food system.
We encourage you to voice your support for responsible pesticide use by sending a letter to President Trump, key Cabinet officials, and your Members of Congress. Stress the importance of maintaining science-based regulations that safeguard both public health and the interests of American farmers.
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