California officials have firmly denied former President Donald Trump's claim that U.S. military forces entered the state to increase water flow from the Pacific Northwest. The dispute marks the latest chapter in an ongoing conflict between Trump and California over water management policies.
In a post on Truth Social on Monday evening, Trump declared that the military had entered California and "TURNED ON THE WATER flowing abundantly from the Pacific Northwest" using emergency powers. The California Department of Water Resources quickly responded, stating that no military forces had entered the state, clarifying that federal water pumps had simply resumed operation after routine three-day maintenance.
The social media exchange follows Trump's recent executive order directing federal agencies to maximize water deliveries in California, potentially overriding state policies. The order specifically targets the federally managed Central Valley Project, which transports water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to agricultural areas.
Trump has repeatedly criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom's administration over water management, particularly in relation to recent Los Angeles wildfires. However, state officials maintain that Southern California currently has plentiful water supplies, with reservoirs at record-high levels following abundant deliveries in 2023 and 2024.
The controversy extends to Trump's stance on environmental protections. His executive order challenges measures protecting endangered fish species in the Delta, including the delta smelt, steelhead trout, and Chinook salmon. Trump characterized these environmental considerations as "fake" in his social media post.
State officials emphasize that pumping water from the Delta has no connection to local fire response capabilities in Los Angeles. The governor's office stated that California currently pumps as much water as it did under previous Trump-era policies.
This dispute highlights the ongoing tension between federal and state approaches to California's water management, particularly regarding the balance between agricultural needs, urban water supply, and environmental protection.