President Approves Federal Aid for DC Sewage Crisis Affecting Potomac River

Federal emergency assistance has been approved to help Washington D.C. deal with a massive sewage leak that released over 250 million gallons of raw waste into the Potomac River. The pipeline rupture occurred on January 19th, and while the leak is mostly contained, full repairs could take several months to complete.

Federal emergency assistance has been greenlit for Washington D.C. following a catastrophic sewage system failure that released more than 250 million gallons of untreated waste into the Potomac River.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency confirmed Saturday that President Donald Trump had authorized the emergency aid, enabling FEMA to deploy equipment and resources to address the crisis stemming from the January 19th pipeline break.

Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser had sought federal assistance on Wednesday while simultaneously declaring a local emergency.

The president’s decision to grant disaster relief follows his public criticism of how the incident was being managed, with Trump pointing fingers at local Democratic officials and particularly targeting Maryland’s Democratic Governor Wes Moore.

In social media statements condemning the response efforts, Trump claimed local authorities had failed to request emergency support and indicated he would intervene personally.

Despite these claims, federal agencies were already participating in repair efforts and damage assessment through the Environmental Protection Agency.

The massive 72-inch pipeline, called the Potomac Interceptor, failed on January 19th, releasing 250 million gallons of raw sewage into the Potomac River north of the nation’s capital during the initial five-day period.

While the spill has been largely brought under control, complete restoration of the damaged pipeline may require several months. DC Water, the regional utility company, is collaborating with EPA officials to fix the breach and track environmental consequences to the waterway.

Authorities have assured residents that local drinking water remains uncontaminated, though they’re advising anyone who uses the Potomac River for recreational activities to avoid direct water contact.