House Republican leaders pushed a long-awaited farm bill toward a floor vote this week amid a revolt from Make America Healthy Again activists and aligned lawmakers. President Donald Trump urged swift action on Truth Social, posting "PASS THE FARM BILL, NOW!" to rally support for investments in rural America and agriculture.

The legislation, first due for renewal in 2023, updates programs for crop insurance, conservation, and nutrition assistance after passing the House Agriculture Committee in March. House Agriculture Chair G.T. Thompson, R-Pa., described it as a "real morale boost" for farmers facing high input costs and outdated programs from the 2018 bill. However, divisions emerged between traditional agriculture interests and the MAHA coalition, led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., which prioritizes reducing exposure to chemicals like pesticides.

A key flashpoint is a provision shielding pesticide manufacturers from lawsuits over health warnings beyond those required by the Environmental Protection Agency. Critics, including MAHA supporters, argue it protects companies producing glyphosate-based products like Roundup amid ongoing litigation and Supreme Court arguments this week on related cancer claims. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., and others introduced amendments to strip the language, threatening to vote against the bill without changes. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., called the government "under siege" by chemical lobbyists but indicated he would support the overall package due to benefits for small meat processors.

Additional tensions involve a measure overturning state livestock standards, such as California's pig confinement rules, and provisions for year-round sales of higher-ethanol blends like E15. House Democrats, led by Agriculture Ranking Member Angie Craig, D-Minn., largely oppose the bill for failing to restore cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program enacted last year. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., labeled it a "betrayal of MAHA" in March for granting immunity to chemical firms and subsidizing tobacco growers.

GOP leaders eyed the Rules Committee meeting on Monday to shape amendments amid hundreds pending. With Democrats unified against it and several Republicans wavering, passage may require moderate Democratic votes, complicating Speaker Mike Johnson's strategy ahead of midterms. Former Agriculture Chair Frank Lucas, R-Okla., warned against further delays that could push resolution into the next Congress.