President Trump criticized local Democrat leaders, especially Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, for the mismanagement of a “massive ecological disaster” unfolding in the Potomac River. Trump said the federal government would have “no choice” but to step in. “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. A sewer line breach in Maryland has caused millions of gallons of raw sewage to be dumped directly into the Potomac River, a result of incompetent Local and State Management of Essential Waste Management Systems,” Trump explained. “This is the same Governor who cannot rebuild a Bridge. It is clear Local Authorities cannot adequately handle this calamity. 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,” he continued. “While State and Local Authorities have failed to request needed Emergency Help, I cannot allow incompetent Local ‘Leadership’ to turn the River in the Heart of Washington into a Disaster Zone. As we saw in the Palisades, the Democrat War on Merit has real consequences. The Federal Government has no choice, but to step in. FEMA, which is currently being defunded by the Democrats, will play a key role in coordinating the response,” he added. Full post below: WJLA has more: The University of Maryland’s School of Public Health called the incident “one of the largest sewage spills in U.S. history.” In a news release, the school said it detected fecal-related bacteria and pathogens in water testing after the spill, “raising urgent public health concerns and underscoring the risks posed by aging sewer infrastructure.” E. Coli levels were found to be almost 2,000 times higher than safe standards, according to a DC Water test. However, a test conducted by the University of Maryland levels up to 10,000 times higher in the days immediately after the collapse. Health and environmental officials from Prince George’s and Montgomery counties, D.C., and Virginia have officially released advisories for people and pets to avoid the river. Right now, DC Water is working on an interim fix, which is expected to take four to six weeks to complete, according to spokesperson John Lisle. A nine-month project mentioned by officials is part of a larger “slip-lining program” to update the old infrastructure. “After reporting ecoli rate at sewage spill in Potomac River was going down, @dcwater now admits they released very incorrect data. It’s actually 100 times higher than they reported,” NBC 4 Washington reporter Mark Segraves said last week. After reporting ecoli rate at sewage spill in Potomac River was going down, @dcwater now admits they released very incorrect data. It’s actually 100 times higher than they reported. DC Water Reporting Error Reported: 2,420 MPN/100mL Actual : 242,000 MPN/100mL @nbcwashington pic.twitter.com/7vI4HE4Wwa — Mark Segraves (@SegravesNBC4) February 10, 2026 “Almost 4 weeks after sewage spill put hundreds of millions of gallons of raw sewage into Potomac River, DC issues its strongest warning,” he added. Almost 4 weeks after sewage spill put hundreds of millions of gallons of raw sewage into Potomac River, DC issues its strongest warning. “Residents and pets should not touch the Potomac River, or engage in any Potomac recreational activities including fishing”@nbcwashington pic.twitter.com/gxuuaRAA2k — Mark Segraves (@SegravesNBC4) February 12, 2026 “The failure in a section of a 72-inch sewer pipe in MD, has release of close to a billion gallons of raw sewage into the Potomac river just inside the Beltway,” NOVA Campaigns wrote. “It’s now considered the LARGEST spill of wastewater in U.S. history. MD & VA Dems haven’t said a word,” it added. The failure in a section of a 72-inch sewer pipe in MD, has release of close to a billion gallons of raw sewage into the Potomac river just inside the Beltway It’s now considered the LARGEST spill of wastewater in U.S. history MD & VA Dems haven’t said a word. https://t.co/2WKcgDMUWi pic.twitter.com/xZME5lBira — NOVA Campaigns (@NoVA_Campaigns) February 12, 2026 “Where is the liberal environmental outrage?” The Washington Times questioned. Opinion | Potomac River sewage dump: Where is the liberal environmental outrage? @WashTimesOpEdhttps://t.co/45fJhsVfT8 pic.twitter.com/04BLfaCLd1 — The Washington Times (@WashTimes) February 16, 2026 Watch additional coverage below: BREAKING One of the largest sewage spills in U.S. history is unfolding right now in the Potomac River just northwest of Washington, DC. More than 200 million gallons of raw sewage have been discharged in the past five days. Crews are scrambling as the snowstorm approaches. pic.twitter.com/OREJ8sc0CK — Champagne Joshi (@JoshWalkos) January 23, 2026 The Hill noted: DC Water, the local utility company in charge of the response to the spillage, estimated Feb. 6 that roughly 243 million gallons of wastewater had overflowed from the collapse site since the initial rupture Jan. 19. Local and state health officials have maintained there is no evidence the spillage has impacted drinking water quality, but they have urged people to avoid contact with the Potomac — including fishing, tubing, kayaking and other recreational activities.