The Trump administration will not seek new bids to repair the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum confirmed Sunday, defending the decision even as questions continue mounting over the troubled renovation project and its cost to taxpayers.
What officials say caused the damage
Burgum stated he remains completely confident that vandals caused damage to the century old Reflecting Pool during its recent renovation. President Donald Trump has described the damage as a single 350 foot gash cut into the pool’s liner, while Burgum characterized it instead as multiple separate cuts that together added up to that total length.
Several developments define where the project currently stands.
- The pool will need to be at least partially drained again in the coming week to complete repairs.
- Officials plan to keep the same contractor responsible for the original repair work rather than opening the project to new bids.
- Repair costs from the alleged vandalism could reach tens of thousands of dollars, potentially escalating the case to felony level property destruction.
- The pool was closed during Independence Day celebrations, which Burgum attributed to fireworks related safety concerns rather than the ongoing repair issues.
a renovation plagued by setbacks
Trump pledged earlier this spring to restore the Reflecting Pool ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations on the Fourth of July. As part of that effort, crews drained the pool and repainted its bottom in a shade the president described as American flag blue. After refilling, the water developed a persistent algae bloom lasting more than a week, and sections of the new coating have since appeared to peel away from the surface.
an arrest connected to the alleged vandalism
Authorities have arrested more than half a dozen people in connection with damage at the site, including former Olympian David Hearn, who was indicted last week on a felony property destruction charge. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro alleged Hearn deliberately tore up newly installed sealant, causing more than $1,000 in damage, and behaved aggressively toward an employee who asked him to stop.
Hearn’s legal team has pushed back strongly against the charges, describing the case as an troubling example of government overreach directed at an ordinary citizen based on what they characterized as a fabricated narrative.
When asked directly whether photographic evidence exists showing vandals cutting the pool’s liner, Burgum did not provide a clear answer. He also declined to weigh in on whether Hearn should face the maximum 10 year prison sentence tied to the charge, stating instead that the courts would ultimately determine the outcome.
scrutiny grows over no bid contracts
Separate from the vandalism allegations, lawmakers are examining how contracts for the renovation project were awarded. Ohio based Green Water Solutions received a $1.7 million contract to install a water purification system, while Virginia based Atlantic Industrial Coatings was awarded $14.7 million to repaint and waterproof the pool’s concrete floor. Both companies have documented prior ties to Trump.
Roughly 10 Democratic lawmakers in the Senate and House are currently investigating the broader project, questioning how the renovation encountered so many setbacks and who should be held accountable for resolving them.
part of a larger fight over national landmarks
The ongoing dispute over the Reflecting Pool has become part of a broader, more heated debate surrounding the Trump administration’s push to overhaul major Washington landmarks, including changes at the White House, as the administration continues shaping its approach to the capital’s most visible public spaces nearly two years into the president’s final term.
This story was originally reported by The Associated Press.