Trump’s EPA Slashes 12 Years Off California Sewage Disaster Cleanup Timeline [WATCH]

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under President Donald Trump announced Thursday that it has significantly accelerated the cleanup timeline for the decades-long sewage crisis impacting Southern California’s coastline, as reported by Fox News.

The cross-border contamination from Tijuana, Mexico, has plagued San Diego communities and military training operations for years.

“The Trump Administration is doing everything in its power to urgently and permanently deliver the 100% solution to the Tijuana River Sewage Crisis that the residents of Southern California have demanded for decades,” EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said in a statement released Thursday.

The EPA completed a 100-day review of ongoing border infrastructure projects and determined that it had shortened construction timelines by an additional nine months for two major initiatives in Mexico — the rehabilitation of Pump Station 1 and the reconstruction of the Tijuana River Gates.

According to the agency, the latest changes bring the total timeline reduction to approximately 12 years.

For decades, untreated sewage from Tijuana has flowed north into San Diego County, polluting beaches and threatening public health.

The crisis has affected tourism and local businesses while also sickening Navy SEALs stationed at the Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, who spend hours in contaminated ocean water during training.

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The problem stems from outdated wastewater infrastructure in Tijuana, where population growth has overwhelmed the city’s treatment systems.

Data from the Mexican government and local universities show the city’s population has surged by about 188% between 1990 and 2025.

Zeldin has made resolving the sewage crisis one of his top priorities since becoming EPA administrator.

In April, he traveled to San Diego and Mexico to assess the situation firsthand and meet with local officials.

By July, Zeldin and Mexico’s Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources, Alicia Bárcena Ibarra, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to coordinate the two nations’ efforts under the existing Minute 328 agreement.

The 2022 Minute 328 agreement, facilitated by the International Boundary and Water Commission, established 17 joint sanitation infrastructure projects to address the sewage flow.

However, the Trump EPA concluded the plan “did not go far enough” and initiated a full review aimed at speeding completion and achieving what it calls a “100% solution.”

Under the revised MOU, Mexico committed millions of dollars in unused Minute 328 funds to accelerate the ongoing projects.

Both nations also agreed to a firm deadline of December 31, 2027, for completing all related construction.

“Reducing timelines for existing infrastructure projects is a sign of great progress and demonstrates how both the United States and Mexico are faithfully upholding their agreed-upon responsibilities from July’s MOU,” Zeldin said.

“Through intensive collaboration, we were able to cut through red tape, identify efficiencies, and overcome bureaucratic hurdles. While substantial construction work lies ahead, this represents a crucial step in our commitment to protect American communities from cross-border pollution.”

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