Stockton, Calif. – On his first day back in office, President Trump issued a memorandum to the Secretary of Commerce and Secretary of the Interior directing federal agencies to undermine essential environmental protections for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. By reviving discredited policies from his first administration, the President is once again choosing to ignore science and attack California’s communities and ecosystems for political gain.
The directive to “put people over fish,” which mirrors corporate agribusiness rhetoric in the San Joaquin Valley, grossly misrepresents the reality of California’s water system and the needs of its residents. Contrary to the President’s statement, water diverted from the Delta does not flow "wastefully into the Pacific Ocean." Instead, it sustains the largest estuary on the West Coast—a vital resource for California’s economy, recreational and commercial fishing industries, Delta farmers, local businesses and millions of residents who depend on clean, safe water. The directive also disregards the cultural and economic importance of the Sacramento River, its tributaries, the Bay-Delta to Delta communities, and California Indian tribes.
President Trump’s claims that Delta water protections cause water shortages and exacerbate wildfires are false. Experts agree that Southern California’s water challenges stem from climate-driven drought and infrastructure constraints—not protections for fish or the Delta. This misinformation ignores that Los Angeles reservoirs are currently full and Delta water sustains essential ecosystems and local economies.
Delta communities have fought for years to restore this vital estuary, which supports tens-of-thousands of jobs and a rich cultural heritage. This memorandum undermines those efforts, prioritizing corporate interests at the expense of sustainable water management and equitable solutions. These policies, if enacted, will provide water flows for the Delta Conveyance Project, eradicate seven Delta fish species in the near term, and worsen toxic algae in the Delta.
Restore the Delta calls on state leaders to reject this reckless policy and to advocate for a water future that protects environmental health for all Californians throughout the state, not just a powerful few.
We remain steadfast in defending the Delta, its communities, and the resources that sustain California’s future.
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