The White House blames Maryland’s infrastructure for sewage spills threatening the Potomac River’s smell during 2026 America 250 celebrations.

The White House has raised concerns that the Potomac River may emit a foul odor during the 2026 America 250 celebrations due to ongoing sewage overflows, with officials citing approximately 243 million gallons of sewage spilled recently. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and President Trump blamed Maryland’s aging infrastructure and Governor Wes Moore for failing to address the issue, despite Moore stating the broken pipe is on federal land and that state officials responded quickly and invited federal agencies to a key hearing they did not attend. The dispute highlights political tensions over responsibility for the environmental and public health concerns ahead of the national milestone.