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Trump Approves Potomac River Clean Up Disaster Assistance
President authorizes federal aid for major sewage spill in Washington, D.C. drinking water source
Published on Feb. 21, 2026
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President Donald Trump has approved Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser's request for federal assistance to clean up the Potomac River after a massive sewage spill last month. The spill, caused by a collapsed sewer line, has released over 200 million gallons of untreated wastewater into the river, which serves as the primary drinking water source for the nation's capital.
Why it matters
The Potomac River sewage spill is one of the largest such incidents in U.S. history, raising major public health and environmental concerns. The contamination has led to elevated bacteria levels and prompted recreational water advisories, while also highlighting vulnerabilities in the region's aging infrastructure and the need for coordinated response efforts.
The details
The sewage release began on January 19 when a decades-old section of the Potomac Interceptor sewer line collapsed in Montgomery County, Maryland. The failure sent over 200 million gallons of untreated wastewater into the Potomac River and adjacent waterways before an emergency bypass system was activated several days later. DC Water, leading the cleanup, estimated about 243 million gallons of wastewater had overflowed from the site since the rupture.
- The sewage release began on January 19.
- On February 6, DC Water estimated approximately 243 million gallons of wastewater had overflowed from the site since the rupture.
The players
Muriel Bowser
The mayor of Washington, D.C. who declared a local public emergency and requested federal assistance for the Potomac River cleanup.
Wes Moore
The Democratic governor of Maryland who disputed President Trump's claims that the state was responsible for the sewage spill, noting the Potomac Interceptor is on federal land.
DC Water
The utility leading the cleanup efforts and response to the Potomac River sewage spill.
Donald Trump
The former U.S. president who approved federal disaster assistance for the Potomac River cleanup and blamed state and local leaders for the incident.
Mark K. O'Hanlon
The Federal Coordinating Officer named to oversee the federal response operations for the Potomac River emergency.
What they’re saying
“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.”
— Donald Trump (Truth Social)
“Maryland agencies and DC Water presented updates on the cleanup during a two-hour legislative hearing. Trump's EPA was invited. They refused to attend.”
— Wes Moore, Governor of Maryland (X)
What’s next
Recovery efforts are ongoing, and it will take an estimated four to six weeks longer than initially anticipated to get a system in place to address the problem and begin removing the large rocks and boulders inside the sewer line.
The takeaway
The Potomac River sewage spill highlights the critical need for investment in aging water infrastructure across the country, as well as the importance of coordinated emergency response efforts between federal, state, and local authorities to mitigate the public health and environmental impacts of such disasters.
