President Donald Trump has called for federal intervention as a major ecological catastrophe unfolds in the Potomac River, triggered by a sewage line breach in Maryland.
Trump took to Truth Social late Monday and called the sewage spill “a massive Ecological Disaster.” The president blamed local Democratic leaders, particularly Maryland Governor Wes Moore, for what he described as gross mismanagement.
Trump said state and local authorities had failed to seek necessary emergency help and added that he would not allow “incompetent” local leadership to turn the river in the heart of Washington into a disaster zone.
Trump said he is directing federal authorities to immediately take control of management and coordination efforts to protect the Potomac River, the capital region’s water supply, and national resources, adding that the federal government must step in, with FEMA playing a central role in the response.
“FEMA, which is currently being defunded by the Democrats, will play a key role in coordinating the response,” wrote Trump.
In a response on Monday, Governor Wes Moore pointed the finger back at the Trump administration, claiming they were responsible for the spill, now considered the largest in U.S. history. Moore’s spokesperson, Ammar Moussa, told The Hill that the federal government has been overseeing the Potomac Interceptor, the source of the leak, for over a hundred years.
Spokesperson Moussa did not immediately respond to Benzinga’s request for comment.
Sewer Collapse Triggers Spill
The sewage spill into the Potomac River began on January 19, after a portion of the Potomac Interceptor sewer line collapsed in Montgomery County, Maryland, sending raw sewage into the waterway.
The river that flows between Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., has been under scrutiny for some time due to concerns about its aging sewer infrastructure. According to a press release from the Potomac Riverkeeper Network (PRKN) and researchers at the University of Maryland (UMD), the river was found to contain high levels of fecal-related bacteria and disease-causing pathogens earlier this month.
About 300 million gallons of water have been discharged into the Potomac following the collapse. While officials say drinking water remains safe, residents are advised to avoid activities in the river.
Notably, Congressional Democrats, along with some Republicans, have stalled an appropriations bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees FEMA.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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