District of Columbia Accuses Federal Government of Polluting Anacostia River With Toxic Waste

The lawsuit calls the U.S. government ‘the biggest polluter’ of the Anacostia River.

An Anacostia Riverkeeper boat passes along the river during a tour at Anacostia Park in Washington on May 1, 2024. Tom Brenner/AP Photo

The District of Columbia filed a lawsuit against the federal government on Jan. 10 alleging that it systematically contaminated the Anacostia River with toxic waste and chemicals for more than 150 years.

The lawsuit, filed by District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb, seeks to require the federal government to fund cleanup efforts for the river, which are set to begin this year.