Democratic Maryland Gov. Wes Moore blamed President Donald Trump on Monday for the massive sewage spill in the Potomac River that caused dangerous bacteria levels.
Trump ordered the federal government on Monday to help clean up the spill and protect the river after a Potomac Interceptor sewage breach gushed millions of gallons of sewage into the river on Jan. 19.
After Trump blamed Moore’s “incompetent leadership” for the spill, Moore’s spokesperson told WMAR-2 News, an outlet based in Baltimore, Maryland, that the Trump administration had failed to take basic actions to protect Maryland residents.
READ: Texas Dem Senate Candidate Falsely Claims FCC ‘Refused To Air’ His Stephen Colbert Interview
“The President has his facts wrong—again,” Moore’s spokesperson Ammar Moussa said. “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. Notably, the president’s own [Environmental Protection Agency] explicitly refused to participate in the major legislative hearing about the cleanup last Friday. Apparently the Trump administration hadn’t gotten the memo that they’re actually supposed to be in charge here.”
Trump said on Truth Social that his administration will provide all of the “necessary” management and direction needed to clean up the mess and protect the river. A White House official told PBS News that Maryland was slow to coordinate with federal officials on the ruptured pipe and has not kept up with needed updates on the state’s water infrastructure.
“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,” Trump said. “I cannot allow incompetent Local ‘Leadership’ to turn the River in the Heart of Washington into a Disaster Zone.”
READ: Hillary Clinton Spars With Reporter Who Presses Her About Links To Epstein, Maxwell
Trump also said that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will play a key role in coordinating the response, though the agency is affected by the funding pause for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The spill occurred when a 72-inch-diameter sewer pipe collapsed, causing sewage to spill into the river, according to PBS News.
A water sample taken from Fletcher’s Cove in Washington, D.C., by the Potomac Riverkeeper Network (PRKN) recorded the bacteria level to be 60 times higher than what is considered safe for human contact, according to ARLnow. The emergency repair is expected to take another 4 to 6 weeks.
Moore has been floated as a potential 2028 Democratic primary contender and has repeatedly sparred with Trump throughout his second term. The Maryland governor has pushed back against Trump’s threat to send National Guard troops to his state, claiming that crime in Baltimore reached historic lows.
Trump also excluded Moore and Democratic Colorado Gov. Jared Polis from the annual White House dinner for governors, saying on Truth Social that they were “not worthy of being there.”
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox
