President Trump approved emergency federal assistance to Washington, D.C., on Saturday to help address a sewage leak that dumped 250 million gallons of raw sewage into the Potomac River. The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced Trump’s approval after D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser requested federal help and declared an emergency following the Jan. 19 rupture of a 72-inch underground pipeline known as the Potomac Interceptor.
The spill, which released untreated sewage for five days, reveals vulnerabilities in infrastructure systems serving the nation’s capital and raises questions about coordination between local and federal responses to environmental emergencies.
The Potomac Interceptor pipeline ruptured on Jan. 19, sending untreated sewage into the river just north of Washington in the first five days. The leak is now largely under control, but repairs could take months, according to officials. DC Water, the local utility, has been working with the Environmental Protection Agency to repair the pipeline and assess its environmental impact.
Public Health and Safety
Drinking water in the area remains safe, officials said, but people using the Potomac River for recreation are being cautioned not to have direct contact with the water.
Trump Approves Aid After Blaming Local Leaders
Trump’s approval of the disaster relief came after he criticized the handling of the spill. He blamed local Democratic leaders, focusing especially on Maryland’s Governor Wes Moore. At a White House dinner for governors, Trump said, “We have to clean up some mess that Maryland and Virginia have left us. We’re going to be cleaning it up. It’s unbelievable what they can do with incompetence.” In social media posts, Trump said local officials had not requested emergency assistance and that he intended to step in.
The EPA had already begun repair and assessment efforts when Trump announced the disaster relief.