WASHINGTON — Workers have begun draining the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool for a second time, as President Donald Trump’s renovation effort continues to face a string of problems that have pushed the project far beyond its original July 4th completion target — a date tied to the nation’s 250th birthday celebration.
Trump initially suggested the renovations would last for a century. However, within weeks of the first round of work wrapping up last month, the pool developed an algae bloom and sections of the newly applied coating appeared to be lifting off the bottom of the pool.
The president has attributed the peeling to vandals, while critics argue the damage is the result of poor workmanship.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who oversees the National Park Service through his agency, addressed the new round of draining during an interview with conservative podcaster Katie Miller that was released earlier this week. Burgum said the draining was part of a planned effort and noted that the water may still contain debris left over from a major Independence Day fireworks show held over the National Mall.
“Drain the water, clean up the fireworks stuff,” Burgum told Miller, who is married to deputy White House chief of staff Stephen Miller. “Repair the vandalism that was done. Fill it back up again.”
The Reflecting Pool project is one of several initiatives Trump has launched across Washington, D.C. Among the most prominent is the demolition of the White House’s East Wing to make way for a $400 million ballroom, along with plans for a large arch to be built between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
Trump announced his plans to upgrade the Reflecting Pool this past spring, with the stated goal of completing the work before the country’s 250th birthday festivities. The pool was drained, and Trump directed crews to paint the bottom what he called “American flag blue.” In May, he posted on his social media platform saying the project was on track: “The goal is to have it done, at this higher level, prior to July 4th — We are ahead of schedule!”
Trouble surfaced quickly once the initial work was done. Trump pointed to vandals as the cause, and court documents later revealed that the National Park Service reported a June 9 incident to U.S. Park Police in which someone used a sharp knife or razor to cut the pool’s new liner.
On Thursday, former Olympic canoe racer David Hearn entered a not guilty plea in D.C. Superior Court on charges of intentionally damaging the Reflecting Pool. Hearn has maintained that he only reached into the pool to look at the peeled sealant and released a piece of it when a park employee told him to do so.
Hearn’s legal team and other critics of the Trump administration have called the prosecution an overreach and contend that Hearn is being made a scapegoat for the poor quality of the renovation work.
Court records show that at least three other individuals have been charged in the same court with misdemeanors for allegedly removing pieces of paint from the pool. All three entered not guilty pleas during their initial appearances in court on Wednesday.
The pool had been closed during the Independence Day celebration, which Trump described as the largest fireworks display in the world. The president had previously acknowledged that another round of draining would be necessary as part of the ongoing repairs.
Burgum has indicated that the administration does not plan to seek competitive bids for the new repair work. Speaking on CNN’s “State of the Union” last weekend, he said: “We’ll use the same company because they did a fantastic job.”
Ohio-based Green Water Solutions, also known as Greenwater Services, received a $1.7 million contract to install a water-purification system in the pool. Virginia-based Atlantic Industrial Coatings was awarded a separate $14.7 million contract to repaint and waterproof the concrete floor.
Democratic members of both the Senate and House are now investigating the project, including raising questions about the total amount of taxpayer money being spent.
