Lawmakers say water cuts threaten national security, food supply

By Jennifer Yachnin | 03/04/2026 04:27 PM EST

Arizona Democrats are urging the administration to redo its Colorado River Basin plan.

Rep. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) during a hearing.

Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) helped lead a letter this week against the administration's plan for the Colorado River Basin. Francis Chung/POLITICO

Arizona congressional Democrats are demanding the Trump administration rewrite its short-term operating plan for the Colorado River Basin, warning that cutting the state’s water supply could harm the nation’s security and food supplies.

In a Monday letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Andrea Travnicek, assistant secretary for water and science, the state’s Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill slammed potential short-term plans for the Colorado River.

The proposals, outlined in a draft environmental impact statement published in January, could cut up to 98 percent of Colorado River flows to Arizona, according to state officials.

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“Simply put, none of the proposed alternatives are viable for Arizona’s continued water security,” wrote Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, and Reps. Greg Stanton, Yassamin Ansari and Adelita Grijalva.

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