Potomac River Sewage Spill Ignites Political Clash Between Trump and Moore
Maryland residents were warned to stay away from the Potomac River following one of the largest sewage spills in American history last month. Now, the public health crisis is escalating into a political dispute between President Donald Trump and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, as both leaders attempt to deflect blame for the environmental disaster.
At least 240 million gallons of raw sewage entered the Potomac River – a 383-mile waterway flowing through Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C. – after a major sewage line collapsed, according to DC Water. Officials have confirmed that drinking water has not been affected and remains safe for residents.
Public health concerns regarding potentially dangerous levels of E. Coli bacteria in the Potomac triggered panic in Maryland. Pumps were installed on January 23 to divert incoming sewage away from the river. According to the state, no new sewer overflow has reached the river since January 29.
With widespread attention focused on the Potomac, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to criticize Moore and other Democrats for the crisis.
“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 wrote on Monday, February 16.
“It is clear Local Authorities cannot adequately handle this calamity. I am 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,” he added, asserting that the state “failed to request needed Emergency Help.”
Moore’s office swiftly responded to Trump’s accusations.
“The President has his facts wrong—again. Since the last century, the federal government has been responsible for the Potomac Interceptor, which is the origin of the sewage leak. For the last four weeks, the Trump Administration has failed to act, shirking its responsibility and putting people’s health at risk,” a spokesperson for Moore told The Hill.
The tension between Moore and Trump began to simmer in January after Trump uninvited the governor to the National Governors Association’s annual White House dinner. While Trump defended his right to choose his White House guests, many Democrats cautioned that breaking the decades-long tradition could have serious repercussions.
In the wake of the Potomac crisis, Trump is facing accusations of singling out the nation’s only Black governor. “I can’t ignore that being singled out for exclusion from this bipartisan tradition carries an added weight — whether that was the intent or not,” Moore said in a statement.
Ironically, Trump’s calls to deploy the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to Maryland come after he previously pledged to dismantle the federal agency. FEMA has experienced significant staff and budget reductions during Trump’s second term. Documents obtained by the Washington Post reveal that the agency may be planning to eliminate thousands of recovery and disaster response positions this year.
Crews have made progress in controlling the flow of sewage over the weekend. The estimated timeframe for repairing the pipeline is four to six weeks, with additional work continuing at the site for up to nine months, according to NBC4 Washington.
The 1960s-era pipe, known as the Potomac Interceptor, is part of DC Water, a utility based in Washington that is federally regulated and overseen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Despite this federal oversight, Trump has publicly blamed Moore for the situation.
