A section of the Potomac Interceptor, a wastewater pipe owned and operated by DC Water — an independent utility — collapsed on federally managed land in Montgomery County, Maryland in January 2026, releasing approximately 243 million gallons of untreated sewage into the Potomac River. DC Water erected a temporary bypass pipe on January 24 to stop the overflow. Full repairs are estimated to take four to six weeks.
President Trump blamed Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, and DC Mayor Muriel Bowser for the spill, citing 'gross mismanagement.' Trump posted on Truth Social that the affected jurisdictions must act 'IMMEDIATELY' and that the federal government could fix it if they called him 'politely.' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated that framing at a briefing.
Moore disputed this characterization, stating the pipe is on federal land under DC Water's jurisdiction and that Maryland had no role except to voluntarily assist DC with cleanup. Moore said he ordered Maryland resources to assist DC because he didn't want contamination spreading to Maryland and wanted to support a neighbor in need.
Separately, Trump declined to invite Moore and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis to a traditionally bipartisan White House dinner for all governors attending the National Governors Association winter meeting, saying they were 'not worthy.' Moore also declined to attend a Friday governors meeting at the White House. NGA chair Kevin Stitt, a Republican, and Moore appeared together onstage at the conference, emphasizing bipartisan cooperation.
