Name: Trump Directs Federal Government to Intervene in Potomac River Sewage Spill Response
Uploaded: 2026-02-17T14:10:15.000Z
Description: He said the federal government had no choice but to intervene, with FEMA set to play a central role in the response.

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President Donald Trump said on Monday the federal government will step in to protect the Potomac River following the collapse of a major sewer pipe in the Washington region last month.

Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116082091487085093">warned</a> that a “massive ecological disaster” was unfolding in the Potomac River. He said local authorities were failing to properly manage the calamity, referring to the Jan. 19 sewer line breach that <a href="https://www.ntd.com/potomac-river-sewage-spill-releases-300-million-gallons-e-coli-levels-spike_1123074.html?utm_source=ref_share&utm_campaign=copy">dumped</a> 300 million gallons of raw sewage into the Potomac.

Trump said he is “directing Federal Authorities to immediately provide all necessary Management, Direction, and Coordination to protect the Potomac, the Water Supply in the Capital Region, and our treasured National Resources in our Nation’s Capital City.”

According to Trump, state and local authorities have not requested any emergency help since the raw sewage spill. He called it a “Gross Mismanagement of Local Democrat Leaders, particularly, Governor Wes Moore, of Maryland.”

“I cannot allow incompetent Local ‘Leadership’ to turn the River in the Heart of Washington into a Disaster Zone,” he wrote. He said the federal government had no choice but to intervene, with FEMA set to play a central role in the response.

Trump also drew a direct link between the Potomac spill and previous environmental crises, referencing the Palisades fire that devastated parts of California.

According to the Independent Institute, the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires were among the most <a href="https://www.independent.org/article/2026/01/07/the-2025-los-angeles-wildfires-lessons-and-key-recommendations/">destructive</a> in California history, killing 31 people, destroying more than 16,000 structures, and burning nearly 38,000 acres.

The Eaton Fire ranked as the second most destructive in state history, while the Palisades Fire ranked third. Total economic losses were estimated between $76 billion and $131 billion, with insured losses of up to $45 billion.

Beyond the scale of destruction, the fires exposed institutional and policy failures at the city and agency levels, according to the Independent Institute. It cited a lack of preparation and governance shortcomings that compounded the crisis and fueled public anger.

The University of Maryland <a href="https://sph.umd.edu/news/umd-team-finds-e-coli-mrsa-potomac-river-after-sewage-spill">describes</a> the Potomac River sewage spill as one of the largest in U.S. history. Its researchers have detected dangerously high levels of fecal bacteria and pathogens, raising urgent public health concerns. The university is also raising alarms about the dangers of aging sewer infrastructure.

While Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has not directly commented on the Potomac spill, he reaffirmed his commitment to environmental protections in response to the Trump administration's <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/epa-rescinds-obama-era-finding-that-served-as-basis-for-climate-regulation-5984585">regulatory rollback</a> of the EPA's 2009 “endangerment finding” on Feb. 12.

“Climate change is a threat to all of us—in Maryland and worldwide," Moore <a href="https://x.com/GovWesMoore/status/2023435819445276935?s=20">said</a> in a Feb. 16 post on X. "This reversal in environmental regulations will put us all in danger and we must continue to uphold regulations previously made by the EPA in order to protect our planet."

NTD has reached out to Moore’s office for comment.

The Potomac River sewage spill began on Jan. 19, when a 72-inch segment of the aging Potomac Interceptor sewer line suddenly collapsed near Clara Barton Parkway in Montgomery County. An estimated 300 million gallons of untreated wastewater spilled into the Potomac River and the adjacent C&O Canal National Historical Park, according to the utility company DC Water.

David Gadis, CEO of DC Water, said crews worked through sub-freezing temperatures to construct an emergency bypass. It was activated on Jan. 24, rerouting flows around the collapsed pipe.

“From that moment forward, DC Water crews and contractors mobilized around the clock ... to contain the overflow, protect public safety, and begin repairs,” Gadis <a href="https://www.dcwater.com/about-dc-water/media/news/open-letter-dc-water-ceo-david-l-gadis-about-potomac-interceptor">said</a> in an open letter on Feb. 11.

DC Water <a href="https://www.dcwater.com/about-dc-water/media/potomac-interceptor-collapse">confirmed</a> that DC’s drinking water is safe and comes from a separate system, but advised the public to avoid the affected area.

“The public is reminded to avoid contact with untreated sewage as it may carry bacteria and viruses,” DC Water cautioned.

The utility urges anyone exposed to wastewater to leave the area immediately, wash thoroughly, avoid consuming any exposed food or water, seek medical care if symptoms appear, and report exposure to DC Water at (202) 612-3400.
<h2>Testing Shows Dangerous Bacteria in Potomac</h2>
Environmental groups report the contamination remains a serious threat. The Potomac Riverkeeper Network (PRKN) and University of Maryland researchers found E. coli and other disease-causing pathogens still present as of Feb. 3. Levels in some locations exceeded state safety limits by more than 4,200 times.

On Feb. 5, the <a href="https://potomacriverkeepernetwork.org/press-release-dc-sewer-spill-monitoring/">group called</a> for an “urgent response by authorities” for the raw sewage spill.

“Raw sewage from a 60-year-old pipe has vomited roughly 300 million gallons into the Potomac River and is still not fully contained … Right now, the Potomac River is not safe!” said Betsy Nicholas, PRKN president.

Bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA were detected in multiple sites. Staphylococcus aureus can cause skin infections, bloodstream infections, and pneumonia, while MRSA is a drug-resistant strain that can lead to more severe and harder-to-treat infections.

“We are getting messages and calls every day asking if the river is safe. People are fishing. There are currently two polar bear plunges planned downriver. People want to know if the river is safe,” said Dean Naujoks, Potomac Riverkeeper.

He added, “Neither DC, Maryland, nor Virginia has issued any recreational use advisory.”

On Feb. 13, the Virginia Department of Health <a href="https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/news/public-relations-contacts/2026-regional-news-releases/vdh-issues-recreational-water-advisory-for-the-potomac-river/">issued</a> a recreational water advisory, citing ongoing sewage spills in the Potomac River and the expected duration of repairs.

The advisory warns: “For the safety of people and pets, VDH is advising Virginia residents to avoid recreational water activities in the Potomac River, such as swimming, wading, tubing, white-water canoeing or kayaking, where full-body submersion is more likely to occur.”

According to the PRKN, preliminary modeling by the Maryland Department of the Environment indicates the sewage spill is affecting water quality for over 30 miles downriver to Quantico Creek. Maryland has also closed shellfish harvesting more than 50 miles downstream.

PRKN also reported that the bacteria were found further downstream of the spill site, indicating contamination is spreading. “This discovery even more urgently requires a public health advisory from DC and Maryland officials—they must inform the residents about the grave risks to public health from this sewage spill,” Naujoks said.

“At a time when faith in our leaders is dishearteningly low, the wholly insufficient response by the D.C. government at all levels only adds to that loss of faith. Our conscience should be shocked when we remember that what is at risk here is public health—for millions of area residents.”

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