By Michael Phillips | MDBayNews
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced Wednesday that the federal cleanup of the Potomac River — following one of the largest sewage spills in U.S. history — has been completed ahead of schedule, just in time for America 250 celebrations this summer.
The announcement, made on Fox News’ America Reports, closes a chapter that began January 19 when the Potomac Interceptor, a 1960s-era sewer line running through Montgomery County, collapsed near the Clara Barton Parkway and released an estimated 240 to 300 million gallons of raw, untreated sewage into the Potomac River.
The federal government got involved for one reason: DC Mayor Muriel Bowser asked.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore did not. Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger did not. The EPA’s own White House statement in February was explicit on this point: prior to the District of Columbia’s request for federal assistance, neither the District nor the state of Maryland had requested federal assistance.
Bowser declared a public emergency and requested federal assistance. Trump approved a disaster declaration, triggering the involvement of FEMA and placing EPA in the lead role. The Army Corps of Engineers, National Park Service, and multiple federal agencies coordinated under EPA’s direction. Zeldin credited the mobilization directly to Bowser’s request: “From the moment Mayor Bowser requested federal assistance, President Trump instantly deployed his Administration to do everything in our power to help resolve this sewage crisis.”
Trump had set a public benchmark — get the interceptor repaired by mid-March. The repairs were completed ahead of that deadline. EPA Senior Response Officer Jessica Kramer confirmed the administration delivered ahead of schedule despite multiple severe weather events, and named completing environmental remediation in time for America 250 as the next milestone. Wednesday’s announcement by Zeldin confirms that milestone has now been met as well.
Throughout the crisis, Moore’s posture was the opposite of Bowser’s. Rather than requesting federal assistance, his office spent weeks on offense. Taxpayer-funded spokesperson Ammar Moussa accused the Trump administration of shirking its responsibility and failing to act. Moore argued the matter was entirely outside his jurisdiction. “This is a Washington, D.C., pipe on federal land,” Moore told Fox News. “Maryland has nothing to do with this.” When Trump said he wanted local leaders to ask politely for help, Moore’s public response was: “If the President wants me to ask nicely, our response is this: Please, Mr. President, do your job.”
The jurisdictional argument has surface merit — the Potomac Interceptor is owned by DC Water, federally regulated, and sits on National Park Service land. But the outcome is now on the record. The mayor who asked for it received federal mobilization and recognition from the administration. The cleanup is done. The river will be ready for America’s 250th birthday.
Governor Moore has not acknowledged that outcome.
Sources: EPA White House statement, Feb. 21, 2026; EPA Administrator Zeldin site visit press release, Feb. 27, 2026; EPA/DC Water press conference, March 18, 2026; Breaking911/Fox News America Reports, May 6, 2026; Fox News digital, March 14, 2026; Maryland Matters; CNBC; PBS NewsHour.
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