Ocasio-Cortez Presses EPA Administrator Zeldin on Trump’s Decision to Allow Bayer to Poison Americans for Profit

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Washington, D.C. - Today, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) questioned Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin on the Trump administration's decision to give the German pharmaceutical giant, Bayer, federal immunity to poison Americans for profit during a hearing in the Environment Subcommittee of the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Glyphosate is the active ingredient in the herbicide, Roundup, and is commonly applied to crops, such as corn and soybeans, that have been genetically modified to withstand its effects. Glyphosate was originally manufactured and sold as Roundup by Monsanto, which was acquired by Bayer in 2018. The World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer in 2015 classified glyphosate as "probably carcinogenic to humans."

Bayer, a multibillion-dollar chemical company and the only U.S. producer of glyphosate-based herbicides like Roundup, has paid out billions to end tens of thousands of lawsuits that claimed Roundup caused cancer. Now, Administrator Zeldin and the Trump Administration are utilizing every resource to give companies like Bayer the authority to poison Americans without legal repercussions.

Find Representative Ocasio-Cortez's remarks as delivered below:

"Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and good afternoon, Secretary Zeldin. This week is a big week in the Supreme Court and Congress regarding considerations of glyphosate.

Glyphosate is the active ingredient in the herbicide Roundup, which is produced by Bayer, the multibillion-dollar foreign chemical company that also owns Monsanto. It's used on hundreds of millions of acres of farmland in the U.S. including corn, wheat, soybeans and even almonds. And glyphosate is even used to dry out crops before they are harvested. Correct, Administrator Zeldin?

Correct.

Thank you.

Glyphosate is also internationally recognized as likely carcinogenic to humans, with particular links to Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

In fact, tens of thousands of lawsuits in the United States, many issued by farmers with high exposure, have been filed against Bayer for failing to warn them about the cancer risk of exposure.

Now, interestingly, Administrator Zeldin, on February 18th of this year, President Trump released an executive order to increase the production of glyphosate in the United States, correct?

Yes.

And not only did that executive order call to increase the production of glyphosate, it also called for legal immunity for Bayer from the tens of thousands of Americans who are seeking justice in court for their toxic exposure.

Now, Secretary Kennedy was here a couple of weeks ago, and when he was asked about glyphosate and the rollbacks against protections against toxic chemicals, he said that we "would have to ask Lee Zeldin about that." So you're here before us today.

Administrator Zeldin, have you ever participated in a meeting with Bayer where you discussed the legal or litigation issues that the company was facing?

No, I never did.

Okay. I have some-

My meeting with them was very brief and that topic did not come up.

All right, I do-

Are you aware of any outreach that they would have in your agency about this?

I could say that I directly had a brief meeting.

Okay.

But it was a brief meet and greet, and that topic did not come up.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, I'd like to submit EPA visitor logs from July 7th, 2025 to the committee.

Without objection so ordered.

And you're certain they didn't bring up anything regarding your work?

I'm telling you 100%. Absolutely. I- I- Maybe there was some brainstorming that was done beforehand of potential topics-

Are you aware of any-

But that topic was not brought up.

Are you aware of anything brought up to any members of your staff or your team? Your senior team?

I am not aware of that, no.

Okay. I would like to submit to the record some internal emails from the EPA that I have acquired via a Freedom of Information Act submission.

Without objection so ordered.

We have documentation here, emails from your senior advisor for Agriculture and Rural Affairs saying that you were meeting with the Bayer CEO last year. He said in these emails that they will be bringing up some legal/judicial issues.

More specifically, in this internal email, in your EPA, it says that Bayer was specifically seeking to and discussing Supreme Court action, they will want an update on EPA's regulatory review, and that, interestingly, Bayer will provide a small thanks for updating the glyphosate web page from the EPA and work on MAHA. Do you have any idea what they might have been referring to in this email?

Well, first off, as I mentioned a few minutes ago, it's possible that the team was doing brainstorming of potential topics.

Okay.

As somebody who actually attended the meeting-

Thank you. I'm sorry, I just have 40 seconds. I'm not trying to be rude.

This glyphosate update that they're referring to seems to be correlated to the EPA agency withdrawing its support for California's cancer warning on glyphosate.

Now, this is important because five days after the EO this year, Bayer filed their opening brief to the Supreme Court, citing Trump's executive order and hinging their case on the EPA's warnings, or lack thereof, of glyphosate.

So we have internal emails from your agency saying that Bayer wanted to thank you and your agency for removing support for California's warning because their case before the Supreme Court right now hinges on you not warning the American people and withdrawing your support on glyphosate.

Do you understand the conflict of interest that is before the American people right now, Mr. Secretary?

The gentlelady's time has expired.

You mind if I respond Chairman?

Thank you.

The gentleman may respond.

Okay. So right now, EPA is completing an assessment due in 2026. And I understand this is a very important topic for many people in this country, this review that the EPA is being conducted, my guidance to dedicated career staffers, and then we have people who've been there for 20, 30 years is that I don't want to preach-

It's taking a while, Secretary Zeldin, because-

Let me answer.

The Supreme Court is going to be making decisions this week, and Congress is voting this week on legal immunity.

You made your point. Now I'm asking. Do you mind if I answer? This is an important part of this, that I'm sure you also care about.

And I think the timing is also very important, Secretary Zeldin.

The gentlelady's time has expired.

Thank you.

Should I complete my answer or no?

Mr. Administrator, you can respond in writing.

Sure. Okay. "

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Issues:Committees and Caucuses