Supreme Court Divided on Roundup Cancer Lawsuits

The U.S. Supreme Court is currently deliberating a significant case involving thousands of lawsuits against Bayer, the parent company of Roundup weedkiller manufacturer Monsanto. Plaintiffs claim Monsanto failed to warn users that Roundup's active ingredient, glyphosate, can cause cancer, notably non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The case includes high-profile verdicts, such as a $1.25 million award to a Missouri man, John Durnell, who used the product for over 20 years.

Bayer argues it cannot be held liable under state laws because the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under federal law, determined glyphosate is "not likely to be carcinogenic" and did not require a cancer warning on labels. However, critics, including some Supreme Court justices, question whether this preempts states from acting on evolving science. Justices expressed concern over both federal regulatory limitations and the burden of inconsistent state laws on companies.

Supporters of stricter pesticide regulations—including activists aligned with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy’s "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) movement—rallied against Bayer outside the Court. Bayer has allocated $16 billion for settlements and may pull glyphosate from the U.S. market if litigation persists. A decision is expected by the end of June 2026.