President Donald Trump has accused Maryland Governor Wes Moore of 'gross mismanagement' over a major sewage spill in the Potomac River, sparking a bitter exchange between the two leaders. The dispute centres on a ruptured sewer line that released more than 200 million gallons of untreated sewage into the river on 19 January, one of the largest such spills in US history.
Trump took to his social media platform on Monday to blame Moore and 'local Democrat leaders' for the disaster, stating that 'local authorities cannot adequately handle this calamity'. However, the pipeline, known as the Potomac Interceptor, is operated by DC Water, a federally regulated utility overseen by the Environmental Protection Agency. Moore's spokesperson, Ammar Moussa, rejected the criticism, saying Trump 'had his facts wrong' and that federal authorities are responsible. He added that EPA officials failed to attend recent hearings on the cleanup.
The 72-inch diameter pipe collapsed on 19 January, and sewage continues to flow into the river while emergency repairs are under way. DC Water estimates immediate fixes will take four to six weeks, with full restoration possibly lasting up to ten months. Authorities have warned the public to avoid contact with the Potomac and keep pets away, though drinking water from upstream remains safe.
Trump announced he would deploy the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) to coordinate the response, despite the agency being caught in a funding impasse due to the partial government shutdown that began on Saturday. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt urged Democrats to 'get serious and fund' the department. The shutdown has left the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees Fema, without funding.
The clash is the latest in an increasingly tense relationship between Trump and Moore, seen as a potential Democratic presidential candidate in 2028. Trump disinvited Moore from a White House dinner for governors on Saturday, citing his handling of the spill and the reconstruction of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge. Moore's office said Maryland remains ready to work with federal officials, with Moussa stating: 'The Potomac isn’t a talking point, and the people of the region deserve serious leadership that meets the moment.'
