By A catastrophic sewage spill into the Potomac River has spiraled into both an environmental emergency and a political brawl, raising fresh scrutiny of aging infrastructure, intergovernmental coordination, and the leadership of DC Water.
On January 19, 2026, a 72-inch sewer line known as the Potomac Interceptor collapsed near Clara Barton Parkway in Montgomery County, Maryland. The pipe, managed by DC Water, released an estimated 243 million gallons of raw sewage and wastewater into the Potomac River. Experts, including researchers at the University of Maryland and officials with the Environmental Protection Agency, have described the rupture as one of the largest sewage spills in U.S. history.
The spill surged during its first week, with intermittent overflows continuing into February. The District’s Department of Energy and Environment issued health advisories urging residents to avoid contact with river water, refrain from fishing, and keep pets away. Officials have emphasized that municipal drinking water remains safe.
DC Water, working alongside the EPA, deployed bypass pumps and began emergency repairs. Crews discovered a large rock dam near the breach site, complicating efforts and extending the timeline. Emergency repairs are now projected to take an additional four to six weeks, while full restoration could stretch nine to ten months. DC Water CEO David L. Gadis has pledged environmental remediation alongside structural repairs.
The scale of the spill quickly drew national attention — and partisan fire.
President Donald Trump sharply criticized Democratic leadership in the region, singling out Maryland Gov. Wes Moore. On social media, Trump declared he “cannot allow incompetent Local ‘Leadership'” to turn the Potomac “into a Disaster Zone,” and announced federal coordination through FEMA. He wrote, “There is a massive Ecological Disaster unfolding in the Potomac River as a result of the Gross Mismanagement of Local Democrat Leaders, particularly, Governor Wes Moore, of Maryland.”
Though the failed pipe falls under DC Water’s jurisdiction with EPA oversight, Trump blamed Moore directly and later excluded him from a White House governors’ dinner. “He can’t fix anything,” Trump told reporters.
Moore’s office responded forcefully. Spokesman Ammar Moussa accused the administration of deflecting responsibility, stating the Trump administration has been “shirking its responsibility” and that “The President has his facts wrong — again.” Moussa added, “Apparently the Trump administration hadn’t gotten the memo that they’re actually supposed to be in charge here,” pointing to what he described as limited EPA engagement in hearings. He emphasized, “The Potomac isn’t a talking point, and the people of the region deserve serious leadership that meets the moment.”
Beyond the immediate political clash, the crisis has intensified scrutiny of DC Water’s governing board, particularly its chair, Dr. Unique Morris-Hughes.
Morris-Hughes, who also serves as Director of the District’s Department of Employment Services (DOES), was confirmed to the DC Water Board in early 2025 and became its first female chair. She holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership, an MBA, and a BA in English, and built her career in workforce development, education administration, grant compliance, and public policy roles, which is a nice way of saying she has no idea about how water is supposed to work. Her annual salary as DOES director is $231,631.
Her leadership record, however, has already drawn criticism. A December 11, 2025 report by the D.C. Office of the Inspector General found that Morris-Hughes approved $69,000 in what investigators labeled “questionable expenses” for catering and entertainment at all-staff events in 2022 and 2023, in violation of regulations barring such expenditures without waivers.
The report detailed events featuring go-go bands such as Experience Unlimited and Backyard Band, DJs, emcees, motivational speakers, acrobats, and appearances by public figures including Real Housewives of the Potomac star Gizelle Bryant and Olympic gymnast Dominique Dawes. Over three years, contracts totaled nearly $550,000. Investigators also cited concerns over donated Las Vegas hotel stays that exceeded raffle limits and were not properly accounted for.
The OIG recommended administrative action against Morris-Hughes and a supervisory specialist, along with broader reforms.
DOES disputed the findings. Spokesperson Diane Watkins said the conclusions “do not accurately reflect the procedures, guidance, or context that informed decisions at the time,” adding that purchases followed established protocols and legal advice and that any errors were minor.
City Administrator Kevin Donahue publicly defended Morris-Hughes’ tenure during the pandemic, stating: “Thousands of Washingtonians kept a roof over their head and food on the table during the pandemic due to the back-breaking and often thankless work of the DOES team. Their success is owed in large part to the leadership of Director Morris-Hughes, who prioritized her team’s support, trainings, retention, and wellbeing during this critical time for the District.”
Still, critics — particularly on social media — have questioned whether a board chair without an engineering or infrastructure background is well suited to oversee a utility responsible for critical systems such as the Potomac Interceptor, especially amid one of the largest sewage releases in modern U.S. history.
Cleanup operations continue. Federal, state, and local authorities remain locked in both logistical coordination and political crossfire as yet another area dominated by Democrats continues to fail.
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