Executive Order 13874, signed on June 11, 2019, directed federal agencies to fundamentally alter how they regulate genetically modified crops. The order instructed the Department of Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency, and Food and Drug Administration to clarify that genetic engineering products would not automatically require federal approval if the same results could theoretically be achieved through conventional breeding techniques. This shifted the regulatory burden by creating a categorical exemption based on the method of development rather than the product's characteristics or potential risks. The practical effect was expedited approval timelines for biotechnology companies seeking to bring genetically modified crops to market, reducing the scientific review period that had previously been standard across federal agencies.

The directive directly affects agricultural biotechnology companies seeking regulatory approval, farmers who plant genetically modified seeds, and the broader food supply chain dependent on these crops. It also impacts federal scientists and agency staff responsible for safety assessments, whose oversight authority was effectively narrowed by the order's parameters. Consumer access to information about genetically modified products potentially diminishes when regulatory review periods shorten and documentation requirements decrease.

This action reflects a broader pattern evident in related Trump administration science policy decisions. The dissolution of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology and termination of National Science Board members removed institutional voices for rigorous scientific review in policymaking. The order also parallels the recent decision by the CDC to cancel publication of a peer-reviewed vaccine efficacy study, demonstrating a consistent approach toward reducing the role of comprehensive scientific analysis in regulatory decisions. Where Enhanced Biological Research protocols from 2025 increased oversight for certain scientific work, the 2019 biotechnology order moved in the opposite direction by loosening requirements.

No major legal challenges have blocked the order's implementation, though agricultural and environmental organizations raised concerns about expedited timelines reducing safety scrutiny. The order remains active and continues to govern how federal agencies evaluate biotechnology products. Reversal would require a new executive order restoring the previous regulatory framework that assessed products based on their characteristics rather than development methods.