Trump Advances $1.15B Great Lakes Asian Carp Barrier

President Donald Trump has signed a memorandum and executive order to expedite and fund the Brandon Road Interbasin Project, a $1.15 billion effort aimed at preventing invasive Asian carp from entering and damaging the Great Lakes ecosystem. This aquatic barrier, located in Illinois, uses underwater speakers, bubble curtains, electric shocks, and flushing systems to block the carp's spread through the Chicago Area Waterway System. The project, authorized by the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 and supported by bipartisan legislation, has faced delays due to state land transaction issues and concerns over federal funding. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker initially delayed progress but resumed cooperation after receiving assurances from the Trump administration. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and environmental groups have praised the renewed federal commitment, highlighting the threat Asian carp pose to native species, recreation, tourism, and commercial fisheries in the Great Lakes region. The Great Lakes hold about 20 percent of the world's fresh surface water, making the protection from invasive species critical for ecological and economic reasons.