President Donald Trump’s claim that the military had to restore water flows in California is false, according to the state’s Department of Water Resources. Trump said the military turned on the water under emergency powers. However, the state said federal workers restarted pumps that were off for maintenance.
“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,” President Trump wrote on Truth Social Monday night, Jan. 27. “The days of putting a Fake Environmental argument, over the PEOPLE, are OVER. Enjoy the water, California!!!”
The California Department of Water Resources stated that claim was not true.
“The military did not enter California. The federal government restarted federal water pumps after they were offline for maintenance for three days,” DWR said in a statement. “State water supplies in Southern California remain plentiful.”
Pentagon correspondent Jennifer Griffin posted that U.S. Defense Officials told her they did not send troops to turn on the water, despite Trump’s claim.
California’s water supply has been closely watched. During the Palisades and Eaton fires, hydrants ran dry as firefighters were battling flames in the Los Angeles area. Officials said they previously closed a nearby reservoir for repairs, restricting water supply.
On his first day in office, Trump signed an Executive Order to reroute water in northern California to the Central Valley and southern California. According to the order, that water is currently flowing into the Pacific Ocean to protect certain endangered fish species.
