Maha v Maga: feud grows as Trump EPA rolls back rules on toxic chemicals

Make America Healthy Again (Maha) movement leaders have put out a petition calling for Donald Trump to fire Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator Lee Zeldin, who, since being appointed in late January, has quickly moved to undo toxic chemical regulations and fast-track pesticide approvals.

The petition represents the latest salvo in a growing Maha-Maga feud over the Trump administration’s policies around toxic chemicals and pesticides. Trump campaigned on cleaning up the nation’s water and food supply, a priority for the Robert F Kennedy-led Maha movement that helped propel the US president to office.

But the Trump administration also has close ties to the chemical and pesticides industry. Maha leaders have voiced a litany of grievances with Zeldin and the EPA as it enacted policies that they say has put public health at risk and benefited the chemical industry.

“Rather than supporting your initiative to ‘Make America Healthy Again’, which millions of Republicans and independents alike embraced, Administrator Zeldin has prioritized the interests of chemical corporations over the wellbeing of American families and children,” the petition reads.

It was supported by about a dozen Maha influencers, including Zen Honeycutt, Kelly Ryerson, and Vani Hari.

In a statement, an EPA spokesperson defended the agency, and said: “Administrator Zeldin has been working closely with President Trump and Secretary Kennedy to implement policies to Make America Healthy Again.”

The petition’s aim is to get the president’s attention, Ryerson told the Guardian. She said she has seen progress on toxic chemicals at other agencies, but not at the EPA, and she did not believe the president was aware of the situation.

“I hold hope that the president is still committed to making America healthy again,” Ryerson said. “I do think if he had the real story of why these things that Zeldin is doing are incredibly damaging to human health, then he would be sympathetic to that.”

Ryerson and other Maha leaders pointed to a number of EPA and Zeldin actions with which they disagreed, among them proposed rules that would reduce scrutiny of new and existing chemicals. Throughout the year, the administration has appointed four chemical industry executives to top positions at the agency’s chemicals office.

The EPA also recently announced that it would continue permitting the use of dicamba, a toxic pesticide banned in many other countries. The agency also drew outrage in recent weeks when it announced it would approve and propose more PFAS “forever chemicals” to be used in pesticides.

Meanwhile, the administration and industry are working to undo some of the PFAS limits for drinking water put in place under Biden.

Ryerson also noted that Zeldin has repeatedly claimed criticism over the EPA’s controversial moves are coming from the left, or are “Dem fake news”.

“In fact, they are also coming from within his own party,” Ryerson added. The EPA has made similar statements to the Guardian.

Maha influencer Vani Hari told the Guardian that Zeldin could “put an end to this” by reversing a Biden-era EPA decision to change how it defines PFAS. The type of PFAS used in pesticides are considered to be PFAS by most regulatory bodies and scientists around the world. However, the EPA in 2023 started considering on a “case by case” basis whether a chemical, like those used in pesticides, are PFAS.

“If Zeldin truly believes in Maha, then he would reverse that rule immediately, and show the country that he stands with families, not with corporations,” Hari said.

In its statement, the EPA attributed frustration with Zeldin to “a significant amount of misinformation circulating that ignores or misrepresents the law, and the actual facts and history of regulatory decisions.”

“Maha’s long-term success depends on rigorous, transparent science,” a spokesperson said.

But some of the Maha figures are skeptical. The petition states that Zeldin’s approach will lead to higher rates of chronic disease, higher medical costs, and “tremendous strain” on the healthcare system.

“Zeldin’s actions clearly demonstrate that his priorities are misaligned with the values of your administration and the American people,” the petition’s letter to Trump states.

“For these reasons, we respectfully urge you to remove Lee Zeldin from his position as EPA administrator and appoint a leader who will genuinely defend public health and truly put America first,” the petition language concludes.

“Thank you for your attention and continued commitment to the health and prosperity of our nation.”