MAHA Has Reshaped Health Policy. Now It’s Working on Environmental Rules

The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, which has already shifted U.S. health policy under the current administration, is now making inroads into environmental regulation by engaging with the Environmental Protection Agency and advocating for stronger rules on harmful chemicals and environmental health issues.

By Aisha Patel – Global Affairs Correspondent

Last Updated: Feb. 2, 2026

MAHA’s New Role at the EPA

Make America Healthy Again, originally known for its influence on federal health policy, has expanded its reach into environmental policy by establishing dialogue with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). On New Year’s Eve, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced new restrictions on five chemicals found in building materials, plastics and adhesives — actions he described as a “MAHA win.” This development indicates an emerging partnership between MAHA activists and EPA leaders despite the agency’s traditional alignment with industry interests. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Unprecedented Access for Activists

Prominent MAHA activist Kelly Ryerson, known on social media as “Glyphosate Girl,” has been part of the shift. After initially organizing a petition calling for Administrator Zeldin’s firing over past environmental decisions, Ryerson and other activists were invited to sit down with the EPA leadership, a move described by some experts as highly unusual. Rashmi Joglekar, a policy expert at the University of California, San Francisco, stated that such access to the EPA administrator by grassroots activists signals the coalition’s growing political influence. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Policy Influence Beyond EPA Walls

The movement’s impact is not confined to environmental regulation alone. MAHA has reportedly played a role in shaping federal and state legislation by opposing liability shields for pesticide manufacturers. In Congress, provisions that would have protected industry from certain lawsuits were dropped after MAHA activists lobbied against them, and similar measures stalled in state legislatures such as Tennessee’s. These legislative effects highlight MAHA’s broad reach across policymaking arenas. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Industry Ties and Regulatory Debate

Despite talks between MAHA advocates and the EPA, critics point to continuing industry influence within the agency. Environmentalists raised concerns that former industry lobbyists now hold key roles in pesticide and chemical safety offices, and that recent decisions — such as proposals to broaden use of certain herbicides like dicamba — reflect deep ties with corporate interests. EPA officials counter that decisions are grounded in science and regulatory standards. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

Awaiting the Official "MAHA Agenda"

EPA Press Secretary Brigit Hirsch has said the forthcoming “MAHA agenda” will directly address priorities voiced by activists, including tackling lead pipe replacements, forever chemicals, plastic pollution, food quality, and Superfund cleanup sites. While MAHA supporters remain cautiously optimistic, some observers wonder whether the engagement represents meaningful regulatory reform or a symbolic gesture amid the 2026 midterm elections. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}