# Great Lakes senators demand Trump halt invasive carp barrier delays

> Great Lakes senators urge Trump to stop delaying $1.15 billion invasive carp barrier project.
- Title: Great Lakes senators demand Trump halt invasive carp barrier…
- Summary: Great Lakes senators urge Trump to stop delaying $1.15 billion invasive carp barrier project. Illinois and Michigan senators warn Trump administration delays…
- Keywords: great lakes, invasive carp, brandon road interbasin project, senators, illinois, michigan, wisc, trump administration, lake michigan, economy, environmental policy, news
- Source: Chicago Sun-Times — https://chicago.suntimes.com/environment/2026/09/22/durbin-invasive-carp-brandon-road-basin
- Published: 2026-09-22T22:00:40.753+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: great lakes, invasive carp, brandon road interbasin project, senators, illinois, michigan, wisc, trump administration, lake michigan, economy, environmental policy, news
## Great Lakes senators call for meeting
Five senators from Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin are calling for a meeting to discuss repeated pauses of the Brandon Road Interbasin Project.

> We urge the Administration to ensure the Brandon Road Interbasin Project moves forward without further interruption
## Brandon Road barrier project
The Brandon Road Interbasin Project is a $1.15 billion barrier to keep invasive carp out of Lake Michigan.
## Project delays
The Trump administration placed the project under administrative review, halting work for the second time in less than a year.
## State contributions
Illinois and Michigan are contributing $50 million and $64 million respectively to the project.
## Invasive carp threat
Silver carp have been found 80 miles downstream from Lake Michigan, the farthest north since 2010 monitoring began.
## Economic risk
Lawmakers warn delays could increase the project's price tag and risk invasive carp reaching Lake Michigan.
## Project timeline
The Brandon Road Interbasin Project was first presented in 2014, with Congress authorizing it six years later.
## Project funding
Congress provided $225 million for initial construction, $47 million in 2023, and $28 million in 2026.
## Senator Durbin's warning
Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin says time is critical as invasive carp inch closer to Lake Michigan.

> Time is of the essence as these carp are inching closer to Lake Michigan
## Invasive carp impact
Invasive carp could upend the Great Lakes ecosystem and multibillion-dollar fishing industries.
## Project status
Crews began work on the project last spring before it was paused just a couple months later.
## Key takeaway

Illinois and Michigan senators warn Trump administration delays risk economic harm from invasive carp reaching Lake Michigan.