Wes Moore Blames Trump For Massive Sewage Spill That Started In His State
Maryland Democratic Gov. Wes Moore on Monday blamed President Donald Trump for the massive sewage spill into the Potomac River that caused dangerous levels of bacteria.
Trump on Monday ordered the federal government to help clean up the spill and protect the river after a Potomac Interceptor sewage breach dumped 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, a news outlet based in Baltimore, Maryland, that the Trump administration had failed to take fundamental steps to protect Maryland residents.
“The president gets his facts wrong again,” Moore spokesman Ammar Moussa said. “For the last century, the federal government has been responsible for the Potomac Interceptor, which caused the sewage leak. For the past four weeks, the Trump administration has failed to act, shirking responsibility and endangering the health of citizens. [Environmental Protection Agency] explicitly refused to participate in the major legislative hearing on the cleanup last Friday. Apparently the Trump administration hasn’t gotten the memo that they’re supposed to run the country.” (RELATED: Democratic governor who lied about having a Bronze Star gets his award as media downplays Trump nominee’s ‘meritorious service’)
Governor Wes Moore’s office responds to a Truth Social post from President Trump attacking the governor for dumping sewage into the Potomac River.
The source of the spill is under DC supervision.
“Apparently the Trump administration didn’t get the memo that it… pic.twitter.com/48VEzNWPYS
– Jeff Morgan (@JeffMorganTV) February 16, 2026
Trump said on Truth Social that his administration would provide all 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 authorities regarding the pipeline rupture and had not kept up with necessary updates to the state’s water infrastructure.
“I am directing federal authorities to immediately provide all management, guidance and coordination necessary to protect the Potomac, the Capital Region’s water supply and our precious national resources in the nation’s capital,” Trump said. “I cannot allow incompetent local ‘leaders’ to turn the river in the heart of Washington into a disaster zone. »
Trump also said the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would play a key role in coordinating the response, even though the agency is affected by the pause in funding to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The spill occurred when a 72-inch diameter sewer pipe collapsed, causing sewage to flow into the river, according to PBS News.
A water sample collected at Fletcher’s Cove in Washington, D.C., by the Potomac Riverkeeper Network (PRKN) recorded a bacteria level 60 times higher than what is considered safe for human contact, according to ARLnow. Emergency repairs are expected to take another four to six weeks.
Moore was touted as a potential 2028 presidential candidate during the Democratic primary and clashed repeatedly with Trump throughout his second term. Maryland’s governor rebuffed Trump’s threat to send National Guard troops to his state, saying crime in Baltimore had reached a historic low.
Trump also excluded Moore and Colorado Democratic Gov. Jared Polis from the annual governors’ dinner at the White House, saying on Truth Social that they were “not worthy to be there.”
The White House did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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