D.C. Files Lawsuit Against Federal Government Over Anacostia River Pollution

The lawsuit accuses the federal government of decades of toxic dumping and neglect, disproportionately harming marginalized communities.

The District of Columbia has sued the federal government for over 150 years of pollution in the Anacostia River, citing toxic waste, heavy metals, and carcinogenic PCBs as key contaminants.
The lawsuit alleges the federal government, which owns the riverbed, is the largest polluter, with waste linked to Navy operations, federal printing facilities, and mismanagement of the city's sewer system.
Pollution in the river has caused significant health issues, including cancer, birth defects, and asthma, disproportionately affecting low-income and minority communities along the river.
Efforts to clean the river have made progress, including a $3.29 billion sewer upgrade reducing sewage overflows by 91%, with expectations of a 98% reduction in the future.
The District is demanding that the federal government fund the cleanup and restoration of the river, which has long been unsafe for swimming, fishing, and other recreational activities.