Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Restoration Underway
Efforts to drain the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool started on Friday, marking another restoration initiative by the Trump administration following the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding.
This action comes after issues arose soon after the previous restoration was finished last month. President Trump has attributed these problems mainly to vandalism.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who oversees the National Park Service (NPS), mentioned in a conversation with conservative podcaster Katie Miller that this latest phase involves cleaning up debris from the recent Fourth of July fireworks celebration.
“Please throw away the water and put away the firework materials,” Burgum urged. He continued, “Please repair the vandalism. Bury it again.”
Earlier this year, President Trump initiated this restoration project as part of a broader plan to refurbish the landmark in time for the 250th anniversary.
However, complications arose from algae blooms and some of the newly applied blue coating started peeling off the pool’s bottom.
Last Sunday, President Trump celebrated what he claimed was victory over the algae, sharing a photo on Truth Social that showed a clear, blue reflecting pool.
The National Park Service intended to drain the pool again post-July 4 to address vandalism damage. Court documents reveal that U.S. Park Police responded to reports of damage on June 9. Their investigation found that caulk had been smeared over foam sealant that had been cut, compromising the newly applied surface. Additionally, about 70 caps from fence posts were reported to have been thrown into the pool.
In a related case, former U.S. Olympic canoeist David Hahn pleaded not guilty on Thursday to charges for allegedly damaging the recently renovated pool. Hahn, arrested last week, faced felony charges linked to an incident at the pool on June 19. He insists he simply stopped during a bike ride to touch some of the flaking blue coating out of curiosity.
At least three others are also facing misdemeanor charges related to similar damages, and all have pleaded not guilty at their initial court appearances.
