Trump Tells Illinois: Stop Delaying Asian Carp Barrier

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 05/09/2025) President Donald Trump signed a memorandum that signals the federal government's strong support for immediately building a planned barrier on the Chicago River to prevent Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes. The move presumably removes any hesitation the state of Illinois had about Trump's commitment to finishing the project.

The state of Illinois must acquire the land necessary to build the Brandon Road Interbasin Project by July 1 and then grant the federal government the permits it needs to start construction "as quickly as possible." Up to now, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker was delaying the state's purchase of the land needed to expand the Brandon Road project out of concern the federal government wouldn't come through with their financial share for the project, and they would have bought a bunch of land for nothing.

But Trump made it clear on Friday that "The federal government is prepared to do its part, but the states where preventative measures can be taken must cooperate."

The President also told the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to make it a top priority to remove invasive carp from the Upper Illinois waterway near Lake Michigan and to block carp from ever reaching the Great Lakes Basin.

In the executive order, Trump lays out the issue. The ravenous Asian carp are an invasive species that, if allowed into the Great Lakes, would "irreparably damage" native fish species like walleye, yellow perch and lake whitefish.

They gobble up the food that the native fish eat, grow up to 100 pounds, rapidly outcompete native fish for space and dirty up the water.

"This poses a significant risk to Great Lakes fishing, boating, recreation, and tourism, which support tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars of commerce annually," he wrote.

Friday's action comes about a month after the infamous White House meeting with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township) in which invasive carp and a new mission for the Selfridge Air Force Base were the items being discussed (Video of the interaction was captured by CSPAN).

At the time, Trump hinted that something was on the way, telling the Governor, "We'll have something to celebrate pretty soon. I'm pretty sure about that."

Trump's memo now gives the Democratic Governor her second big win this year from her collaborative approach in working with the Republican president in his second term.

"That's why I went to Washington D.C. to advocate for this project face-to-face with the President at the White House," Whitmer wrote in her press release. "Michigan continues to win because we show up, talk to anyone and work together to get things done."

The Brandon Road project is supported by a large bipartisan coalition, including local, state and federal officials, and numerous environmental, conservation, tourism and fishing interests. It's been a top priority of the interstate and international Great Lakes St. Lawrence governors and premiers, currently chaired by Whitmer.

Michigan is funding half of the 10 percent non-federal cost share of the project, together with Illinois, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The Speaker thanked the president on Friday for his "bold and decisive" leadership in signing the Brandon Road memorandum.

"President Trump has committed the federal government to this important project," Hall said. "Michigan is committed to this project. And now we just need Gov. Pritzker to show the same leadership, do his part, and hold up his end of the deal, so this gets done as soon as possible."