California officials have disputed claims made by United States President Donald Trump regarding the state’s water resources.
Trump alleged on his social media platform, Truth Social, that the U.S. military entered California under emergency powers to turn on water supplies from the Pacific Northwest, suggesting this marked an end to prioritising environmental concerns over public needs.
“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,” he announced.
In response, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) clarified that no military intervention occurred.
“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,” the department stated.
State Senate Pro Tem Mike McGuire also dismissed the claim, highlighting inaccuracies in Trump’s statement.
“First off, shocker, water from the Pacific Northwest doesn’t flow to the Central Valley. Second, federal water pumps were down for repair and are now back on. Third, rest assured, the military has not invaded the delta. Facts are hard,” he noted.
The controversy follows an executive order signed by Trump directing federal agencies to maximise water deliveries in California and override state policies if necessary.
The order will increase the volume of water pumped from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta via the federally managed Central Valley Project.
Trump criticised California’s water management, describing it as “disastrous,” and called for a reversal of environmental policies implemented under the Biden administration.
His order directs federal agencies to abandon a recently adopted plan that introduced new rules for operating California’s two main water systems.
Instead, he instructed them to revert to a previous plan from his first presidency, which faced legal challenges from California and environmental groups for allegedly failing to protect endangered fish species, such as the delta smelt, steelhead trout, and Chinook salmon.
Trump has repeatedly argued that California’s environmental measures, such as maintaining river flows for these species, are unjustified.
“The days of putting a Fake Environmental argument, over the PEOPLE, are OVER. Enjoy the water, California!!!” he wrote in a Monday evening post.
State officials, however, have refuted claims of water shortages in Southern California. The Association of California Water Agencies emphasised that water supplies have not hindered firefighting efforts and pointed out that reservoirs in the region are at or above average levels due to proactive water management in recent years.
“Water supply has not hindered firefighting efforts. Reservoirs in California are at or above average storage levels for this time of year, thanks in part to years of proactive water management,” the Association said in a statement Monday.
