President Donald Trump announced Monday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency will play a “key role” in responding to the massive sewage spill into the Potomac River, intensifying his criticism of Maryland’s Democratic leadership.
The environmental crisis began last month when a major sewer line in Montgomery County, Maryland, collapsed, releasing more than 200 million gallons of wastewater into the Potomac. The damaged line — part of the Potomac Interceptor system owned and operated by DC Water — required emergency measures to limit further contamination. DC Water recently completed a temporary bypass system to reroute wastewater, though officials estimate permanent repairs could take up to 10 months.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump blamed Maryland Gov. Wes Moore for what he called “gross mismanagement,” describing the spill as the result of “incompetent Local and State Management of Essential Waste Management Systems.” He also criticized Moore’s handling of the Francis Scott Key Bridge reconstruction following its collapse in March 2024.
“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,” Trump wrote. “The Federal Government has no choice, but to step in.”
Moore’s office pushed back, saying Maryland does not regulate the Potomac Interceptor and that responsibility lies with federal authorities and DC Water. Ammar Moussa, a spokesperson for the governor, said Maryland officials responded quickly to the incident and coordinated to protect residents and drinking water supplies.
“Where the president has failed to act, Maryland has played its part to protect residents, protect drinking water, and ensure accountability,” Moussa said. He added that Moore’s office would work collaboratively with federal agencies moving forward.
The dispute is the latest clash between Trump and Moore, a rising Democratic figure. Tensions recently flared over the annual National Governors Association meeting at the White House, after Trump publicly stated that Moore and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis were not welcome, despite formal invitations having been issued.
Environmental groups have also criticized the overall response to the spill. The nonprofit Potomac Conservancy wrote in an open letter that the “scale, duration, and downstream impacts” require more than emergency containment measures. DC Water CEO David Gadis acknowledged the broader infrastructure challenge, saying the incident highlights the urgency of addressing aging systems nationwide.
FEMA’s involvement comes amid a partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security. While some DHS agencies are facing funding lapses, FEMA retains approximately $7 billion in its disaster relief fund and can continue most disaster response operations during shutdown periods.
