President Donald J. Trump has issued an executive order aimed at strengthening the domestic supply of elemental phosphorus and glyphosate-based herbicides, citing their importance to national defense and agricultural productivity.
The order notes that elemental phosphorus is widely used in defense supply chains, including as a component in smoke, illumination, and incendiary devices. It is also critical for manufacturing semiconductors essential to technologies such as radar, solar cells, sensors, and optoelectronics. The element plays a role in modern lithium-ion battery chemistries used in weapon systems. In November 2025, the Department of the Interior designated phosphate as a critical mineral under the Energy Act of 2020.
Elemental phosphorus is necessary for producing glyphosate-based herbicides. These herbicides are described as essential tools for American farmers, enabling efficient production of food and livestock feed. According to the order: "As the most widely used crop protection tools in United States agriculture, glyphosate-based herbicides are a cornerstone of this Nation’s agricultural productivity and rural economy, allowing United States farmers and ranchers to maintain high yields and low production costs while ensuring that healthy, affordable food options remain within reach for all American families."
The document emphasizes there is no direct substitute for glyphosate-based herbicides. Any restriction on access could threaten agricultural productivity and have economic consequences for growers: "Lack of access to glyphosate-based herbicides would critically jeopardize agricultural productivity, adding pressure to the domestic food system, and may result in a transition of cropland to other uses due to low productivity." The president further states: "Given the profit margins growers currently face, any major restrictions in access to glyphosate-based herbicides would result in economic losses for growers and make it untenable for them to meet growing food and feed demands."
Currently, U.S. domestic production capacity for both elemental phosphorus and glyphosate-based herbicides is limited; only one domestic producer exists but does not meet annual demand. As a result, over six million kilograms of elemental phosphorus are imported each year from other countries.
The order warns that reductions or cessation of domestic production could impact national security by disrupting defense supply chains and affecting agricultural capabilities.
President Trump writes: "I accordingly find that...elemental phosphorus is a scarce material that is critical to national defense and security. Our Nation’s inadequate elemental phosphorus production...and the threat of increased domestic scarcity leave us vulnerable to hostile foreign actors and pose an imminent threat to military readiness."
Under this order, authority under section 101 of the Defense Production Act has been delegated to the Secretary of Agriculture. The Secretary will work with the Secretary of War to determine priorities regarding materials needed for an adequate supply of these inputs.
The order instructs that rules should ensure corporate viability among producers is not put at risk: "Accordingly, the Secretary shall ensure that any order, rule, or regulation issued under this section does not place the corporate viability of any domestic producer of elemental phosphorus or glyphosate-based herbicides at risk."
Producers must comply with regulations set forth under 7 C.F.R part 789. Immunity provisions outlined in section 707 of the Defense Production Act apply.
This executive action will be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to appropriations availability.
