RedState has been keeping readers in the loop on the controversy surrounding the major sewage spill into the Potomac River, affecting Washington, D.C., and nearby areas.
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump wrote in a Truth Social post that "as a result of incompetent Local and State Management of Essential Waste Management Systems," namechecking Democrat Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, "[t]he 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.".
We also shared Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem pointing out the hypocrisy of Congressional Democrats leaving these same federal employees without pay, while expecting them to clean up their mess, as my colleague Jennifer Oliver O'Connell wrote.
READ MORE: Trump Orders Federal Takeover After Potomac Sewage Spill Hits Wes Moore
Kristi Noem Lays Bare the Democrat Dishonesty As FEMA Works Without Pay to Clean Up DC Sewage
Now there's an update, as President Trump officially declared a disaster emergency in D.C. on Saturday. Here's what we know about the federal response:
The declaration will allow the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to step in and provide assistance after a sewer line collapsed in January and dumped millions of gallons of raw filth into the water outlining the nation's capital.
...
The emergency declaration authorizes FEMA to provide direct federal assistance under its Public Assistance program, specifically covering emergency protective measures categorized as "Category B."
The federal government will fund 75% of eligible response costs, according to FEMA. Mark K. O’Hanlon has been named the federal coordinating officer for the disaster response, and additional aid designations could be made following further damage assessments.
Sec. Noem said in a statement shared on X that she will "stay in close contact" with EPA Director Lee Zeldin, as DHS and FEMA partner up "to ensure the cleanup is swift and effective" in the District:
Today, @POTUS Trump directed @FEMA and @EPA to provide emergency assistance to the District of Columbia as they work to protect people from the effects of the recent spill in the Potomac. @EPALeeZeldin and I will stay in close contact to ensure coordinated federal support to the…
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) February 21, 2026
She continued::
FEMA is deploying a team to support incident management, working directly with local officials and federal partners to coordinate federal resources. EPA will lead the federal response while @DHSgov and FEMA leverage all our resources to ensure the cleanup is swift and effective.
But the end of her statement highlighted the political roadblock that weighs on the federal effort, with the partial government shutdown leaving her own department employees, and FEMA workers, without paychecks:
Even as Democrat politicians shut us down and these men and women go without pay, DHS is committed to providing much needed aid to the Americans impacted by this disaster. We will not let our citizens suffer without help.
This is a developing story, and RedState will provide updates as warranted.
Editor's Note: President Trump is leading America into the "Golden Age" as Democrats try desperately to stop it.
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