A bipartisan measure backed by MAGA ally Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado was vetoed by President Donald Trump, which Boebert has speculated is retaliation for her support of the release of the files related to late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
The bill, H.R. 131, was titled the "Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act" and cleared Congress without opposition. It was designed to help finish the long-delayed Arkansas Valley Conduit (AVC), a southeastern Colorado pipeline project related to the Bureau of Reclamation.
The water pipeline is designed to transport municipal and industrial water from Pueblo Reservoir to 39 communities across several counties in southeastern Colorado, with planners projecting service for approximately 50,000 people as the region continues to grow.
President Donald J. Trump vetoed H.R. 131, the "Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act," and H.R. 504, the "Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendments Act."
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) December 30, 2025
He transmitted the attached messages to Congress. pic.twitter.com/rQUM2gHLgn
In his veto statement, Trump stated, "My Administration is committed to preventing American taxpayers from funding expensive and unreliable policies. Ending the massive cost of taxpayer handouts and restoring fiscal sanity is vital to economic growth and the fiscal health of the Nation."
This isn’t over. https://t.co/SxRacLX8fp
— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) December 31, 2025
Boebert replied on X, "This isn't over." And in another statement, said, "President Trump decided to veto a completely non-controversial, bipartisan bill that passed both the House and Senate unanimously. Why? Because nothing says 'America First' like denying clean drinking water to 50,000 people in Southeast Colorado many of whom enthusiastically voted for him all three elections...I sincerely hope this veto has nothing to do with political retaliation for calling out corruption and demanding accountability Americans deserve leadership that puts people over politics."
The pipeline project is in GOP Rep Lauren Boebert's district. Boebert recently challenged Trump to force the release of the Epstein files. Boebert has issued a blistering statement reading, in part, "I sincerely hope this veto has nothing to do with political retribution." pic.twitter.com/cWjOg9RkFd
— Kyle Clark (@KyleClark) December 31, 2025
In her statement, Boebert raised the possibility that the veto was "retaliation" for backing the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which aims to compel the Justice Department to make more documents public. Trump and some Republicans had opposed the bill, though he ultimately signed the law after it passed Congress.
This is the second time Trump has broken with a close ally over the release of the Epstein files. The President had a falling out with Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor-Greene over the release of the Epstein files. In September, Greene aligned with lawmakers across the aisle on the Epstein Files Transparency Act and signed a discharge petition to force the House to vote on the bill.
After the hearing, she publicly criticized the handling of Epstein's case files and threatened to release the names of individuals she believed were connected to Epstein's crimes. In a detailed interview with The New York Times, Greene said she received an angry phone call from the President, with him allegedly stating that his "friends will get hurt" if more information on Epstein's clients were to be revealed.
