by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
(Worthy News) – President Donald Trump on Monday directed federal authorities to step in and coordinate cleanup efforts following what he called a “massive ecological disaster” in the Potomac River after a major sewer line collapse in Maryland.
The incident began January 19, when a 72-inch-diameter sewer pipe failed in Montgomery County along Clara Barton Parkway, sending an estimated 40 million gallons of wastewater per day into the river. Officials say nearly 250 million gallons may have already spilled, ranking it among the largest wastewater discharges in U.S. history. Repairs to the aging six-foot pipeline could take months.
In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump blamed Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and other local Democratic leaders for what he described as “gross mismanagement” of critical infrastructure systems. “It is clear Local Authorities cannot adequately handle this calamity,” Trump wrote. “Therefore, 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.”
The president said the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will play a central role in coordinating the response, despite the agency being affected by the ongoing partial government shutdown within the Department of Homeland Security. While funding remains available for projects, salary payments to some FEMA personnel are paused pending congressional action.
Local officials have stressed that the region’s drinking water remains safe, as it flows through a separate treatment system. However, health authorities are urging residents to avoid contact with river water and to thoroughly wash clothing exposed to it. Environmental advocates have raised alarm about the concentration of untreated sewage entering the river, warning of ecological and public health risks.
The spill occurred near the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, an area popular with hikers and cyclists. Dean Naujoks, the Potomac Riverkeeper, described the odor and contamination levels as severe, calling direct sampling of the water a potential health hazard.
Trump compared the situation to last year’s destructive Palisades wildfire in Los Angeles, arguing that failures in leadership have real-world consequences. “The Federal Government has no choice but to step in,” he wrote. “I cannot allow incompetent Local ‘Leadership’ to turn the River in the Heart of Washington into a Disaster Zone.”
State and local officials have not publicly requested federal emergency intervention, but cleanup operations and infrastructure assessments are ongoing as crews work to stabilize the damaged pipeline and contain further discharge.
Authorities say a full environmental impact assessment will likely take weeks, while long-term repairs and mitigation efforts could extend well into the year.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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