California water officials have recently refuted claims made by former President Donald Trump regarding the involvement of the U.S. military in turning on the state’s water supply. Trump’s remarks, posted on his social media platform, suggested that military action had reinstated water flow from the Pacific Northwest to California, amidst his ongoing commentary about the state’s water management policies in light of severe wildfires impacting the Los Angeles area.
In his post, Trump stated, “The United States Military just entered the Great State of California and, under Emergency Powers, TURNED ON THE WATER flowing abundantly from the Pacific Northwest, and beyond.” This statement has been identified by officials as misleading, as they clarified through a post on X that there had not been any military presence in California regarding water operations.
The California Department of Water Resources explained that the federal government had merely restarted water pumps that had been out of operation for a brief maintenance period. The agency confirmed in their communication that water supplies for Southern California are sufficient and that the region relies heavily on water sources originating from northern California snowmelt, which ultimately feeds into the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and is then distributed to various areas.
A persistent issue in California is the allocation of water resources among agricultural needs, urban consumption, and environmental protection efforts. Trump has predominantly backed agricultural interests advocating for increased water access. He has claimed that California’s water management policies have contributed to the water shortages experienced during the wildfires, even suggesting that he would consider withholding federal support unless there were significant changes made by state officials regarding water management.
In response to Trump’s statements, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, responsible for federal water operations, refrained from commenting on either the maintenance of the pumps or Trump’s allegations implicating military involvement in these tasks. A U.S. official, who chose to remain anonymous, confirmed that no active-duty personnel were engaged in the activation of the water pumps.
On Tuesday, the White House indicated that Trump was likely referencing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers but failed to provide specifics on the volume of water involved or the details of any changes made. During a scheduled briefing, the White House press secretary noted that water flow had resumed from northern to southern California, attributing this change to state decisions rather than military action.
Furthermore, the press secretary mentioned that the Army Corps had been deployed to assist in addressing issues stemming from the wildfires. Reports emerged that Trump’s pressure on state and local officials had been significant during his visit to Los Angeles to assess the fire damage.
Initially critical of California’s Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom and state policies, Trump’s tone softened when they met upon his arrival. However, he later issued an executive order challenging what he deemed “disastrous California policies,” mandating federal agencies to devise a strategy to secure necessary water resources for Southern California in a set timeframe.
This is not the first time Trump has attempted to alter water policy during his political tenure, provoking immediate backlash from environmental advocacy groups in response to his recent executive order.
