Latest news with #AsianCarp
E&E News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- E&E News
Trump promises funding for $1.15B Great Lakes fish barrier
After months of uncertainty, the Trump administration has committed to funding a $1.15 billion project to keep invasive Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday directing federal agencies to proceed 'expeditiously' with infrastructure designed to deter the nuisance fish, affirming support for the Brandon Road Interbasin Project that has been under development for the past decade. The carp have wreaked havoc in parts of the Mississippi River and its tributaries and have slowly made their way upstream toward the Great Lakes. Advertisement Scientists and local officials say the fast-breeding carp would upend the ecology and commercial fisheries of the lakes, which hold roughly 20 percent of the world's fresh water.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump endorses project to keep invasive Asian carp from Great Lakes
The Brief President Trump endorsed an infrastructure project to prevent an invasive fish species from reaching Lake Michigan. The effort centers around the construction of deterrents at a dam near suburban Joliet. Gov. JB Pritzker paused the project in February due to uncertainty over federal funding amid cuts by the Trump administration. JOLIET, Ill. - President Donald Trump said his administration will support a massive infrastructure project aimed at keeping the invasive Asian carp species from reaching the Great Lakes after Gov. JB Pritzker delayed the effort due to uncertainty over the withholding of federal funding. A key part of the project centers around the construction of deterrents near southwest suburban Joliet meant to keep the carp away from Lake Michigan. The backstory The carp, which can exceed 100 pounds, spread rapidly and outcompete native fish populations for food and space, authorities said. The carp were used in the southern parts of the U.S. decades ago to reduce nuisance vegetation, but the species began to reproduce and spread into the Mississippi River. Over the last two decades, the federal government built electric barriers along the Des Plaines River, including near Romeoville, to keep the carp from reaching Lake Michigan. Commercial fishermen have also been tapped to catch the carp to keep the population down. In 2020, the construction of deterrents near Joliet was authorized by the federal government as a joint venture between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the States of Illinois and Michigan. Congress appropriated $225 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed under the Biden administration for the project near Joliet. Illinois and the federal government also agreed to cost sharing that would significantly lower the financial burden to the state, according to Pritzker's office. An agreement last year authorized the use of $274 million in federal funding and $114 million in state funding for the first of three construction phases. In total, the project is projected to cost about $1.15 billion. What we know Pritzker said in February he would delay the project by several months because he was worried the Trump administration wouldn't cover the federal government's share of the cost. That pause on the project came amid Trump's efforts to slash federal spending, freeze grants and loans, and fire thousands of government workers. Pritzker said the Trump administration cut off funding to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, which led to the state delaying the Asian carp project. Then, on Friday, Trump issued a memorandum expressing support for protecting the Great Lakes region "from the economic and ecological threat of invasive carp." He specifically cited the Brandon Road Interbasin Project near Joliet, which "would provide multiple layers of innovative technological deterrents" meant to prevent the Asian carp from reaching Lake Michigan. What they're saying Trump then took a shot at Pritzker for delaying the state's acquisition of property necessary for the project. "My Administration fully supports preventing the spread of the invasive carp," Trump wrote. "The State of Illinois … must cease further delay in cooperating with this effort." Pritzker said that Trump's memorandum has given the state the "certainty required" to continue the project as planned. "I am glad that the Trump Administration heard our calls about the importance of delivering federal funds for the Brandon Road Project and decided to finally meet their obligations to the State of Illinois and the Great Lakes region," he said in a news release.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
White House issues memo to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — The White House has issued a memorandum calling for the swift completion of the project to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. The has been in the works for years to make sure that four invasive carp species that have infested the Mississippi River system don't make it into Lake Michigan. According to Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan is funding half of the 10% non-federal cost of the project, with Illinois funding the other half. Asian carp species are a destructive nuisance that can out-compete native fish and grow to more than 100 lbs. The project would create barriers in the river system to prevent the fish from reaching the Great Lakes and harming the state's huge recreation industry. 'This game-changing project, built at a critical water junction, will protect the Great Lakes from invasive species of carp. These fish, if allowed to enter the lakes, would destroy the ecosystem below the water and devastate our economy above it,' says Whitmer. 'The Great Lakes are home to 3,500 plant and animal species and they support 1.5 million jobs that generate than $60 billion in wages a year across the entire region.' The White House memo says the federal government is ready to do its part for the projhect as long as the government in Illinois quickly acquires the needed land near the city of Joliet. Governer Gretchen Whitmer applauded the announcement, saying it is a big win for the White House to express continued support fo th lock and dam project. She says she advocated for this funding face-to-face when she visited President Donald Trump in the White House. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Formerly calling her the ‘woman in Michigan', Trump praises Whitmer during Oval Office visit
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 09: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer looks on as U.S. President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House on April 09, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump signed several executive orders including directing the 'repeal of unlawful regulations' and reducing 'anti-competitive regulatory barriers.' Earlier today, Trump announced a 90-day pause on the full effect of his new tariffs for dozens of countries with the exception of China. (Photo by) President Donald Trump appeared to change his tune when it comes to Michigan's Governor Gretchen Whitmer during a meeting at the White House on Wednesday. The Republican president and Democratic governor had engaged in years of public condemnations of one another's policies mainly starting during the COVID-19 pandemic when Trump zeroed in on Whitmer in 2020 as 'the woman in Michigan…way in over her head' as she instituted stay-at-home orders during the pandemic to slow the spread of the deadly virus. But on Wednesday, Trump hosted Whitmer in the Oval Office as an 'honored' guest as he signed an executive order to address the issue of invasive Asian Carp in the Great Lakes, saying Whitmer is a 'very good person' who has done 'an excellent job' in Michigan. Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Twp.) was also present and thanked Trump for his advocacy on the issue. Whitmer, who participated in former President Joe Biden's 2020 presidential campaign as well as former Vice President Kamala Harris' 2024 campaign as a vocal Democrat, has often denounced Trump over his abortion policies and other platforms, making her recent actions engaging his administration unexpected for many. Last month, Whitmer used her annual State of the State Address to say she hopes to 'find common ground with President Trump' for the good of the state of Michigan which has a strong history of operating at a state level with a partisanly split government. Through the years Whitmer has taken criticisms and hot mic moments in stride, accepting titles like 'Big Gretch' and has become one of the most influential elected officials in the Democratic Party, with speculations that she'll make a run for the presidency in 2028. Earlier in the day Wednesday, Whitmer delivered a speech in Washington D.C. calling for a carveout in Trump's tariffs that have caused economic upheaval in order to allow the auto and energy industries to be resilient towards anticipated economic losses. When asked about possible presidential ambitions, Whitmer dismissed the notion. 'No, no. This is my way of saying —this is similar to speeches that I've given in Michigan too, by the way — this is, I think, a blueprint for success,' she said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Meeting with Trump ‘f-----g disastrous' for Democrat presidential hopeful
A Democrat governor tipped to run for president appeared alongside Donald Trump in what was branded a 'f---ing disastrous' meeting by party insiders. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan said she was 'surprised' after being invited into the Oval Office press conference, having originally intended to discuss with the president in private how tariffs would disproportionately affect the state she represents. The meeting between Ms Whitmer, a leading Democratic figure, and Mr Trump came just hours after she loudly and publicly split with the Democrats on tariffs and signalled she would be willing to work with the president to help Michigan. She was showered with praise by Mr Trump throughout the televised signing of executive orders, who described her as a 'very good person'. 'We're honoured to have Gretchen Whitmer from Michigan, the great state of Michigan — she's really done an excellent job,' he said, although repeatedly failing to engage with any of the issues she had come to discuss. The pair did engage in conversation about the Asian Carp, however, as Mr Trump signed an executive order relating to the invasive fish species which is wreaking havoc in Lake Michigan. Throughout the signing, which also included a decree to 'make showers great again,' Mr Trump repeated his false claim that the 2020 election was rigged. Ms Whitmer stood just feet from his desk as he also called for two justice department probes into two of his critics. Her office later issued a statement insisting that 'her presence is not an endorsement of the actions taken or statements made at that event'. Democrats said she had been 'played' by the Trump administration, with others casting doubts over her chances now of winning the Democratic nomination in 2028. 'Just a f-----g disaster,' a Democratic staffer who admires Ms Whitmer told NBC News. 'It feels like it removes some of the momentum she had as a politically savvy swing-state Dem.' A national Democratic strategist also told the outlet that it was a 'massive indictment' on Ms Whitmer and her team to be seen 'get absolutely played' by the Oval Office stunt. In an earlier policy speech outlining a 'consistent national strategy,' Ms Whitmer had shocked some in her party by trying to find common ground with Mr Trump, expressing understanding of his 'motivations' behind his sweeping roll-out of tariffs that sparked a global trade war. In her speech, which came before Mr Trump announced he was pausing tariffs in most nations except for China, she said she broadly agreed with the use of tariffs, but did criticise how they had been implemented. 'Tariffs need to be used like a scalpel, not a hammer,' Ms Whitmer said. 'Unfortunately, it's unclear how this is going to strategically benefit the American economy or the American consumer.' But she added: 'We do need to make more stuff in America — more cars and chips, more steel and ships. We do need fair trade.' Ms Whitmer, a two-time governor of a battleground state who was tipped as a running mate for Joe Biden in 2020, also called for bipartisan cooperation to strengthen American manufacturing. 'There's a lot more common ground here than we think.' The speech, which largely focussed on bipartisanship, was widely viewed as Ms Whitmer firing the starting gun on a 2028 run. The governor appeared to attempt to paint herself as a middle-ground alternative to Mr Trump who could capture votes from both Democrats and swing voters who opted for Mr Trump in 2024 over issues like the economy. Trying to avoid directly criticising Mr Trump or his administration put her at odds with other high-profile Democrats, who are also considered future presidential hopefuls, and have been clear in their opposition to the tariffs. Ms Whitmer's comments came just hours before Mr Trump's extraordinary u-turn on sweeping global tariffs, in which he issued a 90-day pause on the levies for all countries except China. While his press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the last-minute ditch was a clear example of the 'art of the deal,' Mr Trump himself admitted in a press conference later on that he had reacted after people became 'yippy' and a 'little bit afraid' amid the market turmoil. The awkward Oval Office audience was Mr Whitmer's second face-to-face meeting with Mr Trump since he took office. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
