
The Trump administration does not support Governor Jerry Brown's controversial Delta Tunnels project, reversing the Obama administration position in support of the project, according to a U.S. Department of the Interior spokesman.
Interior deputy communications director Russell Newell told Ellen Knickmeyer of the Associated Press that the Trump administration did not fund the project and chose to not move forward with the project to build two giant tunnels under the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.
When asked if this meant that the Trump administration opposed the California WaterFix project, Newell said yes.
The Trump administration has been cooperating with the Brown administration on the planning for the project to date, but this is the first time that the Trump administration has taken an official position on the California WaterFix. The federal fishery agencies recently approved the environmental documents for the project, but without federal support now, this approval will be likely be moot.
In a tweet, Representative Jared Huffman, a vocal critic of the project, said today, "Bombshell blow to Delta Tunnels/Water Fix: Trump admin officially opposes. Time 4 long-needed reality check on this?"
On Wednesday afternoon, Newell issued a statement clarifying Interior’s position on the Delta Tunnels and backing off from the earlier statement, stating that the agency does not expect to participate in the construction or funding of the CA WaterFix.
“While the Department of the Interior shares the goals of the state of California to deliver water with more certainty, eliminating risks to the California water supply, and improving the environment, at this time, the Department under the current state proposal does not expect to participate in the construction or funding of the CA WaterFix. The Department and Reclamation will continue to work with the state and stakeholders as the project is further developed,” the department said.
Today's announcement by the Trump administration comes in response to yesterday's request by Huffman and five other House Democrats for a new federal investigation of the funding for Brown's proposed tunnels project. That request follows the Inspector General's audit of funding for the project.
"The $84 million spent in taxpayers' money without disclosure to Congress and kept hidden from the public were decisions driven and executed by the Obama Administration and that team," Newell told.