White House invokes DPA to bolster phosphorus and glyphosate supplies

The White House issued an executive order on Feb. 18–19 invoking the Defense Production Act to prioritize domestic production of elemental phosphorus and glyphosate‑based herbicides, describing both as critical to national defense and the food supply. A White House official said President Donald Trump signed the order, while administration records from previous years show the DPA has been used by the Biden administration to secure other strategic industrial supplies.

The order frames elemental phosphorus and glyphosate as dual‑use materials whose disruption could threaten military readiness and agricultural productivity. Elemental phosphorus is processed into white phosphorus, which can be used in military munitions or altered for agricultural uses. Glyphosate is a widely used herbicide in U.S. row‑crop systems, and the administration cited risks to the food supply in justifying the prioritization. The order, the White House official said, finds that “any interruption of supply of either of these critical materials could leave our defense industrial base and food supply vulnerable to ...”

The move draws on longstanding presidential authority under the Defense Production Act, including Section 303 and related provisions codified at 50 U.S.C. §4533(a)(6), which permit the executive branch to expedite and expand domestic production of materials deemed essential to national and economic security. The DPA has been deployed in recent years to shore up clean‑energy and critical‑minerals supply chains. The U.S. Department of Energy has described prior determinations under the DPA as part of efforts “to lower energy costs for families, strengthen national security, and achieve lasting American energy independence.” Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm previously told the public, “President Biden has invoked the Defense Production Act so that the U.S. can take ownership of its clean energy independence.”

Key implementation details were not released in the materials provided with the order. The full text of the executive order and any accompanying presidential determination have not been published, and officials have not clarified which DPA authorities will be used. Past Title III actions have varied in form; for example, earlier Title III activity aimed at critical minerals emphasized feasibility studies and productivity grants rather than loans or direct purchases, with enforcement conditions tied to environmental, labor, and Tribal engagement standards enforced by the Department of Defense. Whether the phosphorus and glyphosate action will follow that model, authorize direct purchases or prioritization orders, or include export controls and allocation mechanisms is not yet known.

Economically, prioritizing these inputs could alter domestic production incentives and trade flows. Elemental phosphorus supply constraints would have implications for defense contractors and industrial chemical producers, while tighter control over glyphosate distribution could affect farm input costs and planting decisions for major commodity crops. Congressional debate has previously accompanied DPA use to expand mining and processing capacity, reflecting concerns about environmental impacts and community engagement as well as industrial policy tradeoffs.

Several important questions remain open: the official signed text of the order, which DPA titles and authorities are being invoked, any funding or procurement commitments, and responses from major producers and agricultural firms. Public statements from manufacturers named in some accounts were not included in the materials provided. Journalists and market participants will be watching for the published order and follow‑on guidance from the White House, the Departments of Defense and Agriculture, and leading producers to gauge the policy's scope and economic impact.