Trump Declares Emergency in D.C. Following Potomac River Sewage Spill

President Donald Trump approved an emergency declaration for the District of Columbia on Saturday, February 21, 2026, in response to a major sewer line collapse that has resulted in a significant sewage spill into the Potomac River. The declaration, announced by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), will provide federal assistance to supplement local response efforts.

Sewer Line Collapse and Sewage Spill

The emergency stems from a collapse of a major sewer line on January 19, 2026. More than 300 million gallons of raw sewage have been released into the Potomac River as a result of the incident . Researchers at the University of Maryland and the Potomac Riverkeeper Network have reported that fecal-related bacteria and disease-causing pathogens in the river have reached levels more than 2,700 times the safe limit .

Federal Assistance and FEMA Coordination

The President’s action authorizes FEMA to coordinate disaster relief efforts to alleviate hardship and suffering caused by the emergency. FEMA will mobilize equipment and resources to support response operations . Specifically, the agency is authorized to provide emergency protective measures (Category B) through direct federal assistance, with the federal government covering 75 percent of the costs .

Geographic Scope of Assistance

Federal disaster assistance is available not only to the District of Columbia but also to areas within Maryland and Virginia where the District of Columbia has jurisdictional responsibilities .

Key Personnel

Mark K. O’Hanlon has been appointed as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal response operations in the affected area . Further damage assessments may lead to additional designations at a later date.

Mayor Bowser’s Request

The emergency declaration follows a request from Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser for federal resources to address the sewage system leak . Deputy Mayor Lindsey Appiah stated the city’s priority is to utilize all available resources – local, federal and regional – to support District residents .