Trump Signs Hudson River Protection Bill
To Ban New Barge and Tanker Anchorages
WASHINGTON—Communities up and down the Hudson River hailed the recent passage and signing into law of the “Hudson River Protection Act,” which permanently bans new commercial barge anchoring sites on the Hudson River.
U.S. Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY-18) first introduced the bill in 2023 following attempts to erode protections against dangerous barges anchoring in the Hudson. President Trump signed the “Hudson River Protection Act” into law as part of the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act.
“I especially want to thank my partners at Riverkeeper and Scenic Hudson for their tireless work and commitment to protecting the Hudson,” Rep. Ryan said. “Never again will big corporations be able to turn our river into a parking lot for dangerous barges, polluting the drinking water for 100,000 of our neighbors. This victory proves that when the Hudson Valley stands up with one voice to demand change, we can accomplish anything.”
In 2023, the Coast Guard issued a Marine Safety Information Bulletin (MSIB) signaling an attempt to erode protections preventing commercial vessels from anchoring in the Hudson River. After a more than two-month delay, Michael Emerson, the director of Marine Transportation Systems, provided what Rep. Ryan described as “a woefully insufficient response that left the door open for dangerous oil barges to line the Hudson.”
In October of 2023, Rep. Ryan was joined by Riverkeeper, Scenic Hudson and the Hudson 7 in demanding the Coast Guard uphold the anchoring ban. The new MSIB, issued in November 2023 in response to overwhelming community outrage, temporarily paused the Coast Guard’s plan to allow dangerous barges to line the Hudson River but doubled down on their plan to allow unlimited anchoring in the future.
“Ships and barges carrying crude oil and other dangerous cargo along the Hudson pose an immense risk to the communities who rely on the river for their drinking water, livelihoods, and recreation. They’re also a serious threat to local fish and aquatic life, whose habitat would be destroyed if a spill happens. The Hudson River Protection Act is a major step forward in the years-long effort to block new anchorages and safeguard this irreplaceable resource. We are grateful to Congressman Ryan, our partners, and elected leaders for taking action,” said Scenic Hudson President Ned Sullivan.
“More than 10,000 New Yorkers spoke up with Riverkeeper when the U.S. Coast Guard proposed new anchorage sites for large tankers and barges — threatening irreplaceable wildlife habitat and the drinking water for over 100,000 New Yorkers. The Hudson River Protection Act’s passage in both the House and Senate is a direct result of that public outcry,” said Riverkeeper Associate Director of Government Affairs Jeremy Cherson. “Riverkeeper thanks Congressman Ryan for being a steadfast champion for the river and for advancing this legislation over multiple years. This bill sends a clear message that the Hudson River is no longer open for industrial exploitation.”
Published: January 13, 2026