Trump’s Claim of Using Troops to Force Water Flow in California Refuted by State Officials
Trump’s Social Media Post Sparks Debate
President Trump on Monday night heightened his battle with California over water policy by suggesting U.S. military troops arrived in the state to turn on pumps and send more water flowing — something state officials quickly denied.
California Department of Water Resources Responds
The California Department of Water Resources responded in a statement: “The military did not enter California. The federal government restarted federal water pumps after they were offline for maintenance for three days. State water supplies in Southern California remain plentiful.”
Background on the Dispute
Trump’s post came after he signed an order directing federal agencies to “maximize” water deliveries in California and “override” state policies if necessary, and following a longstanding debate with Gov. Gavin Newsom over the state’s water management policies.
Trump has lambasted Newsom, saying he has held back water supplies in California and impeded the response to Los Angeles’ recent wildfires. Newsom and state departments have repeatedly denied these claims, noting that there is a plentiful supply of water in Southern California.
Water Supply in California
“Water supply has not hindered firefighting efforts,” the Association of California Water Agencies said in a statement Monday. “Reservoirs in California are at or above average storage levels for this time of year, thanks in part to years of proactive water management.”
Trump’s Executive Order
Trump’s executive order, issued Friday, outlines steps intended to increase the amount of water pumped from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.
The order directs the Interior and Commerce secretaries to “immediately take actions to override existing activities that unduly burden efforts to maximize water deliveries.”
It calls for delivering more water via the federally managed Central Valley Project, one of the two main systems of aqueducts, dams, and pumping facilities in California that transport supplies from the Delta southward.
Environmental Concerns
Trump has said he intends to try to weaken environmental protection measures, and has questioned why the state should keep certain flows in rivers to help species such as the delta smelt, “a little tiny fish.”
He doubled down on his criticism in his Monday evening post, writing, “The days of putting a Fake Environmental argument, over the PEOPLE, are OVER. Enjoy the water, California!!!”
Conclusion
Trump’s claim of using troops to force water flow in California has been refuted by state officials, who say that the federal government simply restarted federal water pumps after maintenance and that state water supplies in Southern California remain plentiful.
FAQs
Q: What did Trump claim? A: Trump claimed that U.S. military troops arrived in California to turn on pumps and send more water flowing.
Q: What did California officials say? A: California officials said that the military did not enter California and that the federal government restarted federal water pumps after maintenance, and that state water supplies in Southern California remain plentiful.
Q: What is the dispute about? A: The dispute is about water management policies in California, with Trump claiming that the state is holding back water supplies and impeding the response to wildfires, and California officials denying these claims.
Q: What is the current state of water supplies in California? A: According to the Association of California Water Agencies, reservoirs in California are at or above average storage levels for this time of year, thanks in part to years of proactive water management.
