Introduction

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. confirmed to a Senate panel that the widely used herbicide ingredient glyphosate causes cancer. The testimony on April 21, 2026, comes amid growing political debate and legal challenges surrounding the chemical's safety and the federal government's stance on its production.

Kennedy, a standard-bearer for the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, stated that human consumption of the chemical should be minimized. He delivered the remarks in response to questions from Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) during a Senate Budget Committee hearing, according to a report from The Epoch Times [1].

Kennedy's Direct Testimony on Herbicide Ingredient

Secretary Kennedy affirmed the carcinogenicity of glyphosate without hesitation during the hearing. When asked by Sen. Schatz if the chemical caused cancer, Kennedy replied, "Yes," according to the hearing transcript. Schatz also inquired if glyphosate was safe for human use [1].

"I mean, safe, or does it kill weeds? It kills weeds," Kennedy stated [1]. He added, "I would say it's important to minimize consumption of glyphosate as much as possible." Sen. Schatz observed that Kennedy was being "uncharacteristically diplomatic" about the chemical, which the secretary denied [1].

Kennedy's remarks placed him in a unique position, given his prior role as a plaintiffs' attorney. He helped secure a $289 million award against Monsanto in 2018 while representing a client who alleged that Roundup caused him to develop non-Hodgkin's lymphoma [1].

Contrast with Administration's Legal Stance on Monsanto

The administration Kennedy now serves is defending Monsanto in a Supreme Court case, Monsanto v. Durnell, which involves similar allegations that Roundup caused non-Hodgkin's lymphoma [1]. The Justice Department's argument focuses on legal procedure, not the chemical's safety, asserting that the lower-court verdict against the company was legally flawed [1].