Trump slams 'incompetent' Maryland Gov Wes Moore, for disgusting Potomac River sewage spill, says FEMA will play 'key role' in clean up

President Donald Trump criticized Maryland Governor Wes Moore on Monday for his state’s role in hundreds of thousands of gallons of sewage being spilt into the Potomac River. Trump also said that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would play a "key role" in coordinating the response to the spillage.

"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 wrote.

The break in the Potomac Interceptor, which takes wastewater from towns in the Dulles Airport area down to Washington, DC for processing, was first discovered on January 19 in Cabin John, Maryland. A section of the sewer line, which DC’s Department of Energy and Environment says carries up to 60 million gallons of wastewater daily, collapsed.

Trump continued, "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. 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."

In response to Trump’s statement, Ammar Moussa, a spokesperson for Moore, told Politico that the federal government is the one responsible for regulating the Potomac Interceptor, and said that the EPA "explicitly refused" to participate in a legislative hearing on Friday help by Maryland and DC agencies.

Moussa said, "Where the president has failed to act, Maryland has played its part to protect residents, protect drinking water, and ensure accountability. Maryland officials were on site within hours of the leak to do our part to coordinate the response, and ensure the public was aware and protected."

DC Water said in early February that around 243 million gallons of wastewater had overflowed into the Potomac River, with 194 million gallons flowing in within the first five days. The Potomac Riverkeeper Network, a local environmental advocacy group, estimated on February 5 that as much as 300 million gallons had spilled into the river by that point.

The spill was contained through the use of the C&O canal, with DC Water saying in a February 15 press release that four high-capacity bypass pumps have been installed and a third flume installed at the end of the canal to bring wastewater back into the interceptor. Authorities estimate repairs could take four to six weeks to complete.

Authorities in DC, Virginia, and Maryland have warned against activities that risk contact with river water due to the threat of E. coli. Testing from various local authorities and experts have shown that levels of E. coli in the water have come down from the initial surge.