Trump administration lifts stop-work order on Great Lakes carp barrier

Federal officials have lifted a stop-work order on the Brandon Road Interbasin Project near Joliet, Illinois. The project is a state-federal initiative designed to prevent invasive carp from entering the Great Lakes.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had halted construction in July during an administrative review, though the specific reasons for the pause were not disclosed. The order was lifted on Wednesday following a phone call between Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and President Donald Trump. Whitmer urged the President to direct the Army Corps to resume work, citing the urgency of recent sightings of juvenile silver carp roughly 80 miles from Lake Michigan.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker also sent a letter to the President demanding the restart of construction, arguing that the Great Lakes are an essential asset for drinking water and regional economies. Officials warned that allowing invasive species to establish a foothold in the Great Lakes would result in significant environmental and economic consequences.