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Moore Denounces Trump's Response to Havre de Grace Sewage Spill

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  Published in Politics and Government on Thursday, February 19th 2026 at 13:07 GMT by Fox News
      Locales: Maryland, UNITED STATES

Havre de Grace, MD - February 19, 2026 - Maryland Governor Wes Moore delivered a scathing rebuke of former President Donald Trump today, responding to Trump's claims that the recent massive sewage spill in Havre de Grace was the result of "failed Democrat policies." Governor Moore, appearing on CNN's 'New Day' program, labeled Trump's statements as "absurd" and "frankly insulting," emphasizing the urgent need for accountability and responsible leadership in the face of a serious environmental and public health crisis.

The spill, which occurred earlier this week, saw a significant volume of untreated sewage released into the Susquehanna River and surrounding waterways near Havre de Grace. The incident prompted immediate emergency responses from local and state authorities, leading to the declaration of a local state of emergency. The environmental impact is still being assessed, but concerns are mounting over potential contamination of drinking water sources, damage to the delicate ecosystem of the Susquehanna River, and health risks to residents.

Former President Trump, however, took to his Truth Social platform on Tuesday to deflect blame, attributing the spill to the policies of the Democratic party. This sparked immediate criticism, with many, including Governor Moore, viewing it as a cynical attempt to politicize a disaster impacting real people.

"It's absurd. It's frankly insulting," Moore stated emphatically. "People are hurting. People are concerned. People are rightly upset about what happened in Havre de Grace, and to see someone try to exploit that for political gain... is just not right."

Moore's response highlights a growing tension between focusing on immediate disaster relief and the seemingly relentless cycle of political blame-shifting. He forcefully argued that the current situation demands a unified focus on remediation and prevention, not partisan finger-pointing. He reiterated that the issue transcends political affiliation, emphasizing the direct impact on the health and well-being of Maryland residents and the integrity of the environment.

"What we need to see is accountability. We need to see responsible leadership," Moore continued. "Not folks looking for a way to point fingers and distract from the real work that needs to be done."

The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) is currently leading a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the spill. While details are still emerging, preliminary reports suggest aging infrastructure may have played a significant role. Experts have been warning for years about the deteriorating state of wastewater treatment facilities across the nation, a problem exacerbated by years of underfunding and deferred maintenance. The Havre de Grace incident is now serving as a stark reminder of the critical need to invest in modernizing these essential systems.

This isn't an isolated incident. Similar spills and infrastructure failures have been reported in other states, raising concerns about a widespread crisis in America's aging water and sewage infrastructure. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that billions of gallons of untreated sewage are released into waterways annually due to failing systems. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, passed in 2021, allocated significant funding to address this issue, but many argue that more is needed to fully rectify the problem.

Governor Moore stressed that the focus now needs to be on understanding exactly what went wrong in Havre de Grace, fixing the immediate problem, and implementing long-term solutions to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. He pledged the full resources of the state to support the investigation and remediation efforts. "This is not about politics. This is about people's lives, it's about people's health, it's about the environment," Moore said. He also hinted at potential legislative proposals to bolster funding for infrastructure improvements and strengthen environmental regulations.

The spill has also prompted calls for increased transparency regarding the condition of wastewater treatment facilities throughout Maryland. Environmental groups are demanding regular inspections and public reporting of potential risks. Residents of Havre de Grace and surrounding communities are understandably anxious and are seeking reassurance that their water supply is safe. The MDE has established a hotline and website to provide updates on the investigation and offer information to concerned citizens. The long-term consequences of the spill remain to be seen, but the incident has undoubtedly brought the critical issue of infrastructure maintenance and environmental protection to the forefront.