President Donald Trump signed an executive order to ensure an adequate domestic supply of elemental phosphorus and glyphosate-based herbicides, identifying both materials as essential to national defense and the U.S. food supply.
The order authorizes use of the Defense Production Act to prioritize and allocate resources for the production of the two inputs. According to the White House, elemental phosphorus is used in military applications including smoke and illumination munitions and other defense technologies. It also serves as a precursor in the manufacturing of glyphosate-based herbicides.
Glyphosate-based herbicides are widely used in U.S. agriculture to control weeds, support crop yields and maintain a stable food supply.
The White House said the United States currently has only one domestic producer of elemental phosphorus and glyphosate-based herbicides, and that existing production capacity does not meet total national demand. The administration said any disruption in supply could threaten military readiness and agricultural productivity.
The executive order directs the secretary of agriculture, in consultation with the secretary of defense and other relevant agency heads, to take actions necessary under the Defense Production Act to prevent supply interruptions and strengthen domestic production capacity.
The White House said the action is intended to reduce reliance on foreign sources for materials considered vital to national security and to safeguard the nation’s defense and food systems.
Source: White House Fact Sheet, “President Donald J. Trump Ensures an Adequate Supply of Elemental Phosphorus and Glyphosate-Based Herbicides for National Security” https://www.whitehouse.gov/fac...