Michigan Governor's Call to Trump Unblocks Great Lakes Carp Project

A federal stop-work order that had stalled construction on a key Great Lakes environmental project was lifted this week, just hours after Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer spoke directly with President Donald Trump. The order had halted work on the Brandon Road Interbasin Project near Joliet, Illinois, since July, with officials in both Illinois and Michigan left without a clear explanation for the pause.

The project, a joint state-federal effort, is designed to create a series of technological barriers in the Des Plaines River to prevent invasive carp from entering Lake Michigan. The urgency of the work was heightened in August when the Illinois Department of Natural Resources detected juvenile carp roughly 80 miles from the lake, the furthest upstream such fish have been found since monitoring began.

Governor Whitmer, a Democrat who has developed a working relationship with President Trump in his second term, made the call on Wednesday. Her office stated she urged the President to direct the Army Corps of Engineers to resume work, emphasizing the recent carp detection. Shortly after the call, Michigan officials were notified that the stop-work order had been lifted.

The move highlights the administration's relationship-driven approach, where direct communication with the President can resolve administrative holds. However, officials in Illinois, where the project is physically located, said they had not been notified of the decision. Governor JB Pritzker's office noted the lack of communication, questioning the administration's commitment to the project despite its location in his state.

This is not the first time the project has faced uncertainty under the current administration. In March, Governor Whitmer pressed for the release of federal funds, which were subsequently approved. The project had also received significant federal funding under the previous administration.