NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
President Donald Trump on Saturday approved a disaster declaration for Washington, D.C., over the Potomac River sewage disaster.
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 President’s action authorizes FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts to alleviate the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population and to provide appropriate assistance to save lives, to protect property, public health and safety and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe,” FEMA said in a statement.
FEMA’s assistance will cover the nation’s capital and the areas in Maryland and Virginia where the District of Columbia has responsibilities, the agency said.
Pumps and pipes divert raw sewage into the C&O Canal on Feb. 16, 2026 in Cabin John, Maryland. The sewage pipe had collapsed on Jan. 19. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
This is a developing news story; check back for updates.
Fox Business’ Edward Lawrence and Fox News’ Emma Colton contributed to this report.
