WASHINGTON — In a move that has stunned both K Street lobbyists and environmental stalwarts, the Environmental Protection Agency is undergoing a radical identity crisis. Forced by the surging “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin is pivoting away from a strictly deregulatory playbook to embrace a new, health-focused “MAHA agenda”.
The shift reached a fever pitch on New Year’s Eve when Zeldin—historically known for hacking away at federal oversight—announced fresh restrictions on five chemicals used in plastics and adhesives, triumphantly labeling the move a “MAHA win”. This unlikely alliance between a Republican administration and health activists represents a tectonic shift in U.S. policy, driven by the shadow of the upcoming November midterm elections.
The ‘Glyphosate Girl’ Gets a Seat at the Table
The movement’s growing teeth are best illustrated by the rising influence of Kelly Ryerson, the activist known to her followers as “Glyphosate Girl”. Once a fierce critic who circulated a petition to have Zeldin fired, Ryerson recently transitioned from protesting outside the EPA to sitting across from the Administrator himself at the agency’s headquarters.
“The level of engagement with people concerned with their health is absolutely revolutionary,” Ryerson remarked, describing the access as “unprecedented”.
MAHA’s influence isn’t limited to private meetings. The coalition has already flexed its muscle in Congress, successfully lobbying to remove liability shields for pesticide manufacturers from a critical funding bill—a measure that would have protected big business from expensive health-related lawsuits.
A Fragile Coalition Faces a Midterm Test
For President Trump’s administration, the stakes are purely electoral. The 2026 midterms threaten Republican control of Congress, and the MAHA devotees—a politically diverse and vocal voting bloc—could decide the outcome.
“This is becoming an issue that if the EPA does not start getting their stuff together, then they could lose the midterms over this,” warned Courtney Swan, a prominent nutritional activist who has been consulting with EPA officials.
Despite the “MAHA win” branding on recent chemical restrictions, many within the movement remain skeptical. Critics point to the EPA’s recent hiring of former industry lobbyists into senior pesticide oversight roles as evidence that “corporate capture” remains the agency’s default setting.
The ‘MAHA Agenda’ Hit List
The EPA’s forthcoming formal agenda is expected to address several high-priority targets for activists:
- Lead Pipes & Superfund Cleanups: Accelerating the removal of toxins from local infrastructure.
- “Forever Chemicals” (PFAS): Stricter regulations on substances that resist breakdown in the human body.
- Atrazine in Drinking Water: A primary target for Ryerson and other health-focused advocates.
- Cancer Warnings: Ongoing pressure to label glyphosate as a carcinogen, despite current EPA stances.
The Investigative Take: Policy Shift or PR Survival?
While the administration is eager to claim “MAHA wins,” the reality is a complicated tug-of-war. Zeldin’s recent phthalate restrictions, for instance, target workplace and environmental risks but notably skip the thousands of consumer products that contain the same ingredients.
This suggests the EPA is attempting a “middle path”—offering enough concessions to keep the MAHA base from revolting while avoiding a total scorched-earth policy against the chemical industry. Whether this balancing act can hold through November remains the biggest question in Washington.
