Illinois governor calls transfer of Asian carp project to Michigan a 'political stunt'

Pritzker threatens legal action if Trump breaks agreements on the Brandon Road Project to block invasive species from reaching the Great Lakes

Apr. 12, 2026 at 8:49pm

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting a large dam structure with rushing water, representing the Brandon Road Project and the battle to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes.The transfer of the Brandon Road Project's management to Michigan raises concerns about political interference in a critical effort to protect the Great Lakes from an invasive species threat.Joliet Today

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is pushing back against the Trump administration's decision to transfer management of the Brandon Road Project, a key federal-state effort to block invasive Asian carp from reaching the Great Lakes, from the Army Corps' Illinois district to the Michigan district. Pritzker called the move a "political stunt" and threatened legal action if the Trump administration breaks legally binding agreements, insisting that Illinois has upheld its commitments to the project.

Why it matters

The Brandon Road Project is a critical effort to prevent Asian carp, an invasive species that could devastate the $7 billion Great Lakes economy, from reaching the Great Lakes. The project has been in development for over a decade and has bipartisan support from state leaders in the region. The transfer of management to Michigan raises concerns about the project's progress and the potential for political interference.

The details

The Brandon Road Project involves building a series of mechanisms, including an electric barrier, underwater sounds, and an air bubble "curtain", to block Asian carp from traveling from the Mississippi River watershed to Lake Michigan. The $1.15 billion project was authorized by Congress in 2020 and is expected to take 6-8 years to complete. Illinois has dedicated $50 million in state funding for the project and acquired the necessary land parcels, but the Trump administration has delayed the release of federal funding since December.

  • In December, the Brandon Road Project was put under review by the Trump administration.
  • On April 3, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released a Civil Works plan that included $28 million to start construction on the project.
  • On April 9, the Army Corps announced that management of the project would be transferred from the Illinois district to the Michigan district.

The players

JB Pritzker

The governor of Illinois, who is pushing back against the Trump administration's decision to transfer management of the Brandon Road Project to Michigan.

Donald Trump

The former president who directed officials to streamline the permitting and environmental reviews for the Brandon Road Project, but has also suggested withholding funding for the project.

Gretchen Whitmer

The governor of Michigan, who has raised the Asian carp issue during meetings with Trump and is committed to protecting the Great Lakes from the invasive species.

Adam Telle

The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, who announced the transfer of the Brandon Road Project's management to the Michigan district, calling Illinois an "unreliable partner."

Carrie Fox

The spokeswoman for the Detroit District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which will now be managing the Brandon Road Project.

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What they’re saying

“Trump must stop this political stunt and start releasing the funds, get the project moving again, and protect the Great Lakes. Illinois owns the land the Brandon Road Project will be built on - Trump cannot just decide to give it away.”

— JB Pritzker, Governor of Illinois

“This transfer will ensure the project progresses in closer coordination with the state of Michigan, which has been a model non-federal sponsor for this project to date.”

— Adam Telle, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works

“President Trump is making a strong, smart move to protect our Great Lakes. It takes a strong leader to blow past the obstruction in Illinois, and it takes someone who cares about Michigan and our environment to keep pushing this project forward.”

— Matt Hall, Michigan House Speaker

What’s next

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The takeaway

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