Illinois Governor Criticizes Trump Administration’s Halt of Anti-Carp Project

The Trump administration halted progress on a critical project aimed at curbing the spread of invasive carp in the Great Lakes. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker condemned this decision, labeling it a serious threat to both Illinois’ freshwater supply and the nation’s.

The project, known as the Brandon Road Interbasin Project, had experienced numerous delays over the past year. Pritzker called on the federal government to rescind the work stoppage issued on July 24.

Pritzker stated, “The Trump administration is attacking fresh, clean drinking water for the Great Lakes and the country.”

Located at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam on the Des Plaines River, this infrastructure endeavor seeks to block invasive carp, such as silver and bighead carp, which threaten local ecosystems and industries around the Great Lakes.

Efforts to curtail these carp, initially brought from China in the 1960s to manage aquatic vegetation, have been ongoing for decades. Floods later enabled their escape into the Mississippi River basin, from where they spread northward towards the Great Lakes. The carp’s unchecked proliferation results from the lack of natural predators, posing significant ecological risks.

These invasive species breed rapidly and compete aggressively for food, risking ecological imbalance in the Great Lakes if not contained.

Although federal officials did not directly notify Illinois about the halt, the state learned through site contractors. The state’s Department of Natural Resources requested a meeting with project leaders from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, while acknowledging the stop-work order, confirmed the project is under administrative review. Spokesperson Gene Pawlik offered no further information.

Pritzker has previously attributed project delays to Trump’s administration’s lack of cooperation. Last year, Trump signed a memorandum reaffirming the project, but criticized Pritzker for the setbacks. Furthermore, the U.S. Department of the Interior froze over $13.6 million for other carp mitigation projects beyond Brandon Road.

Pritzker argues these delays jeopardize drinking water access for millions and threaten the regional economy. Coordination among Illinois, Michigan, and federal entities over decades led to the $1.15 billion mitigation effort at Brandon Road. This site is seen as critical to blocking upstream carp movement, as existing electrical barriers proved unreliable.

Pritzker highlighted the potential devastation if carp reach the Great Lakes, asserting, “If the Great Lakes water supply is contaminated, clean water and industries depending on it will suffer.”