Maryland lawmakers demand action on Joint Base Andrews jet fuel spill

Lawmakers and Maryland regulators on Tuesday pressed the Trump administration for a full accounting of the jet‑fuel leak at Joint Base Andrews, demanding immediate steps to stop contamination that has persisted for more than seven months and threatens Piscataway Creek and nearby neighborhoods. The request follows a series of unanswered queries after the spill was first reported in March, when a ruptured underground fuel line released an estimated 1,500 gallons of jet fuel into the base’s drainage system.

The leak matters because the creek feeds into the Patuxent River, a source of drinking water for over 200,000 residents and a habitat for endangered fish species. Environmental groups have warned that the fuel’s toxic compounds can linger in soil and groundwater for years, raising long‑term health risks. The base, a key hub for Air Force operations and presidential travel, has faced criticism for its handling of the incident, with earlier reports indicating that the Air Force’s own environmental office delayed notifying state officials by several weeks. Maryland’s Department of the Environment has repeatedly asked the Pentagon for data on the spill’s extent, but the agency says the Pentagon has provided only limited maps and no clear timeline for remediation.

In response, Rep. Steny Hoyer (D‑MD) and Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D‑MD) wrote to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, urging the department to release all monitoring data and to fund a comprehensive cleanup. Maryland’s environmental regulator, Dr. Lisa D. Jones, said the state will consider legal action if the Air Force does not meet a new deadline of Dec. 31 to submit a detailed remediation plan. The Pentagon’s spokesperson, Col. Mark R. McCoy, said a joint task force is reviewing the site and that “appropriate corrective measures will be taken,” but offered no specifics on timing or cost.

The next steps hinge on whether the administration will comply with the congressional and state demands. If the Air Force fails to deliver a concrete plan, lawmakers have signaled they will pursue a formal investigation through the House Oversight Committee and may seek a court order to enforce cleanup standards. Environmental advocates warn that delayed action could allow the fuel to seep deeper into the aquifer, making future remediation more difficult and costly. The pressure now on the Pentagon reflects growing scrutiny of military installations’ environmental stewardship and could set a precedent for how similar incidents are handled nationwide.