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5h ago

Blue Coating Peels and Algae Returns at Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

Peeling sealant, along with a major algae bloom, has forced Park Service crews into emergency treatment.

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Paint peels from the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after recent renovations following a directive from U.S. President Donald Trump to paint it blue ahead of the 250th anniversary of U.S. Independence, in Washington, D.C., on June 18, 2026.
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Paint peels from the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after recent renovations following a directive from U.S. President Donald Trump to paint it blue ahead of the 250th anniversary of U.S. Independence, in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 18, 2026. REUTERS/Annabelle Gordon

Overview

  • The basin was drained, coated in a dark “American Flag Blue” and refilled after work the president announced was complete on June 6; within days large algae blooms appeared and photos and video showed the new coating lifting and floating.
  • The Department of the Interior and National Park Service have treated the water with hydrogen peroxide, deployed nanobubble ozone systems and used vacuums to remove algae and floating fragments of the coating.
  • Federal spending records show the expedited project used urgency no‑bid exceptions and multiple awards that raised contract spending to roughly $14.7 million, drawing complaints from preservation groups and lawmakers about bypassed competitive procurement.
  • Experts and observers say the rapid scope of work left buried circulation pipes and other major plumbing repairs for a later phase, a shortfall that raises the risk that algae and leaks will return if the pipes are not replaced.
  • The Reflecting Pool has a long record of leaks and blooms despite past, larger renovations, so the current failures feed legal challenges, preservation complaints and debate over whether urgent cosmetic fixes can substitute for deeper infrastructure repairs.