Trump and Pritzker Clash Over $1.15B Asian Carp Barrier in Chicago River

An invasive fish has sparked a political standoff between President Donald Trump and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, with the Asian carp emerging as the latest flashpoint in their feud.

The Asian carp were introduced to the United States approximately 50 years ago to control algae in ponds and wastewater facilities. However, they escaped into the Mississippi River and have since spread aggressively. Now, with the invasive species threatening to infiltrate the Great Lakes, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has proposed a $1.15 billion barrier system in the Des Plaines River near suburban Chicago.

The proposed barrier includes multiple deterrent technologies:

• An electric barrier
• Acoustic blasts
• A bubble curtain
• A specialized lock capable of flushing out carp

Last week, the Trump administration announced plans to transfer management of the Brandon Road Interbasin Project from Illinois to Michigan. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Adam Telle stated:

“President Trump has always been a champion of keeping invasive Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. Our partners in the Great Lake states can’t allow one state to have undue influence and use it to play more games.”

Telle also accused Illinois of being an “unreliable partner, delinquent on its payments and real estate commitments.”

Governor Pritzker responded on social media, stating:

“Illinois has upheld our commitments. Trump must stop this political stunt and start releasing the funds, get the project moving again, and protect the Great Lakes.”

Pritzker warned that Illinois is prepared to take legal action, adding:

“Illinois owns the land the Brandon Road Project will be built on — Trump cannot just decide to give it away.”

A formal agreement for the Brandon Road project was signed on July 1, 2024, by Illinois, Michigan, and the Army Corps. Under the deal, Illinois committed approximately $50 million for design and early construction. The state also acquired a 50-acre stretch of riverbed and 2.75 acres near the river at the Army Corps’ request. However, some of this land may be affected by legacy coal ash pollution, which Illinois will also be responsible for remediating.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has been collaborating with Illinois and federal officials to advance the project “with urgency,” according to a statement from her press secretary, Stacey LaRouche. LaRouche added:

“Governor Whitmer will continue to work to get the job done so we can protect our lakes and power economic growth for generations to come.”