US EditionTrump directs federal authorities to protect Potomac
The federal government will coordinate cleanup after over 200 million gallons of wastewater spilled into the Potomac River, raising health concerns from University of Maryland researchers.
- On Monday, President Donald Trump ordered federal intervention to protect the Potomac after a January 19, 2026 sewer line collapse released more than 200 million gallons of wastewater.
- DC Water is working to contain the spill and repair the collapsed sewer pipeline after University of Maryland researchers called it one of the largest sewage spills in U.S. history, raising urgent public health concerns.
- More than 2,000 National Guard soldiers have been in Washington since Trump's initial deployment in August, while Trump accused local officials of mismanaging waste systems and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser's office said drinking water remains safe.
- Democrats and rights advocates criticized the move as federal overreach, saying it targets Democratic-led areas, while Trump said the Federal Emergency Management Agency will coordinate despite staff cuts.
- This episode could prompt renewed scrutiny of aging sewer infrastructure as University of Maryland researchers detected pathogens, highlighting risks exposed by the January 19 collapse and federal control over Democratic-led jurisdictions.
30 Articles
30 Articles
On Monday, President Donald Trump commissioned his government and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to "protect" the Potomac River, which bathes Washington, D.C., after a waste water spill that began almost a month ago, and accused the local Democratic authorities involved in the assistance of incompetence. "The rupture of sewage in Maryland has caused millions of gallons of waste water to pour directly into the Potomac River as a r…
Trump deploying FEMA to 'protect' Potomac after sewage spill
President Donald Trump is deploying the Federal Emergency Management Agency to spearhead efforts to control a wastewater spill in the Potomac River that is considered by experts to be the largest in U.S. history. Trump lambasted regional Democratic leaders as “incompetent,” alleging that it was becoming “clear” that “local authorities cannot adequately handle this calamity.” “I am directing Federal Authorities to immediately provide all necessar…
Trump directs federal government to intervene in Potomac sewage spill
President Donald Trump said Monday that federal authorities will respond to a major sewage spill that occurred four weeks ago in the Potomac River, which flows between Maryland, Washington and Virginia. In a post on his social network, Truth Social, Trump said the Federal Emergency Management Agency would play a key role in a response that would involve “Management, Direction, and Coordination” to protect the Potomac. FEMA is one of the agencies…
Trump Calls in FEMA to Respond to Sewage Disaster in Potomac River
President Donald Trump is directing federal emergency teams to respond to a sewage spill on the Potomac River, calling it a “massive ecological disaster” and blaming local leaders for not handling the crisis, which began nearly a month ago. “There is a massive Ecological Disaster unfolding in the Potomac River as a result of the Gross Mismanagement of Local Democrat Leaders, particularly, Governor Wes Moore, of Maryland,” Trump posted on Truth S…
Crisis at the Potomac: Federal Response and Political Tensions
Crisis at the Potomac: Federal Response and Political Tensions U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the federal government will intervene to protect the Potomac River following the collapse of a significant sewer line in the Washington, D.C., area last month. Trump stated that federal agencies would provide management and coordination to safeguard the water supply and natural resources.Maryland's Democratic Governor Wes Moore criticized th…
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