At a South Florida event highlighting rapid state action, Gov. Ron DeSantis publicly asked former President Donald Trump to delegate construction of the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir to Florida, arguing the state can move faster than federal authorities.

“You can delegate that to us, because we move faster than the Army Corps,” DeSantis said. “So we will finish that reservoir. If you delegate it to us, I’ll get it done, and much quicker.”

Trump appeared open to the idea. “I would do that. Let me ask myself permission. Permission granted,” he said. “Go ahead, get the thing. Get it complete.”

The exchange came during the unveiling of the new “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center at the converted Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport. Trump used the occasion to tout Everglades restoration efforts funded during his presidency, including the EAA Reservoir near Lake Okeechobee.

“That was a lot of money spent. I hope it was well spent,” Trump said. “We did a Rolls Royce job, but it’s a lot of money that we spent out there together.”

Trump also expressed optimism that red tape could be cut quickly. “I also like what he’s doing in Okeechobee. He has my approval for that. I don’t know how we work that out, but we’ll work it out.” DeSantis responded, “We’ll follow up.”

The reservoir, once completed, could significantly reduce harmful discharges from Lake Okeechobee into the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers. “One thing I’ll say about this land, we’ll be gone a million years, and this land is still going to be here,” Trump remarked. “It’s not going to be much different.”

The EAA Reservoir has long been seen as a centerpiece of Everglades restoration, but construction delays and bureaucratic hurdles have slowed progress under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. DeSantis’ pitch to Trump signals an effort to accelerate the timeline by transferring authority to state officials.

The project holds both ecological and political significance. It promises to mitigate toxic algae outbreaks and protect estuarine ecosystems, while also highlighting DeSantis’ environmental leadership. His remarks positioned Florida as better equipped to manage the pace and efficiency of large-scale infrastructure.

If the federal government formally approves the state-led construction plan, it would mark a major shift in how Everglades restoration is implemented—and could serve as a model for similar state-federal partnerships.

Originally reported by Jacob Ogles in Florida Politics.