DC Mayor Declares Emergency Over Record Potomac Sewage Spill, Requests Federal Aid

Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser declared a disaster emergency on Wednesday over the Potomac River sewage spill, formally requesting federal assistance from President Donald Trump to address what has become the largest sewage spill in U.S. history.

The crisis has now released more than 240 million gallons of raw sewage into the Potomac River, creating environmental concerns and potential public health risks for the capital region. In her letter to the president, Bowser requested an emergency disaster declaration that would free up federal resources and funding for cleanup efforts.

The timing of the spill has raised particular concerns about the upcoming America250 celebrations scheduled for this summer, with President Trump expressing worry that the river—which winds through the nation’s capital—could still emit foul odors during the major national event.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed these concerns during Wednesday’s press briefing when asked if the president was worried the capital would “smell like poop.”

“Yes, he is worried about that,” Leavitt responded. “Which is why the federal government wants to fix it. And we hope that the local authorities will cooperate with us in doing so.”

The disaster has sparked a political dispute between federal and state authorities. The Trump administration has criticized Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s handling of the crisis, with Leavitt calling on leaders in Maryland, Virginia, and D.C. to “step forward and to ask the federal government for help and to ask for the Stafford Act to be implemented.”

Leavitt’s comments highlighted long-standing infrastructure issues in the region. “It’s no secret that Maryland’s water and infrastructure have been in dire need of repair,” she said. “Their infrastructure has received a nearly failing grade in the 2025 report card from the American Society of Civil Engineers. This is the same grade they’ve received five years earlier.”

The White House spokesperson placed blame squarely on Governor Moore’s administration. “There has been no improvement under the leadership of Gov. Moore. He’s clearly shown he’s incapable of fixing this problem, which is why President Trump and the federal government are standing by to step in.”

Moore’s office has rejected these characterizations, countering that the federal government bears responsibility for the Potomac Interceptor, the six-foot-wide sewage pipe that collapsed on January 19 and is the source of the ongoing leak.

“Since the last century, the federal government has been responsible for the Potomac Interceptor,” a representative from Moore’s office stated on Monday. “For the last four weeks, the Trump Administration has failed to act, shirking its responsibility and putting people’s health at risk.”

The spokesperson further noted that the Environmental Protection Agency “explicitly refused to participate in the major legislative hearing about the cleanup last Friday,” suggesting federal disengagement from the crisis.

The sewage spill poses significant environmental challenges for the Potomac River ecosystem, which serves as a vital waterway for the capital region. Environmental experts have expressed concern about potential long-term damage to aquatic life, water quality, and recreational use of the river if the spill continues unabated.

Repair work on the broken section of the Potomac Interceptor continues in Cabin John, Maryland, but the sheer volume of released sewage has created a cleanup challenge of historic proportions.

Leavitt emphasized the potential environmental impact if swift action isn’t taken. “For all of the environmentalists in the room and across the District of Columbia, let’s all hope and pray that this governor does the right thing and ask President Trump to get involved,” she said, “because it will be an ecological and environmental disaster if the federal government does not step in to help.”

The crisis exemplifies the challenges facing America’s aging water infrastructure, with many systems across the country approaching or exceeding their intended lifespans. Infrastructure experts have long warned about the potential for catastrophic failures without significant investment in maintenance and modernization.

As cleanup efforts continue, residents of the affected areas are left wondering about potential health impacts and when the river that defines the region will return to normal conditions.