Overview
- The National Park Service drained the Reflecting Pool Monday so crews could perform warranty repairs and remove debris from recent fireworks before refilling it, and the administration says the basin will be returned to service soon.
- President Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum have repeatedly said vandals slashed the new dark‑blue waterproof liner, with the president expanding his estimate to a roughly 300‑yard damaged stretch and authorities pursuing arrests and at least one indictment.
- Journalists and new photos of the emptied pool have not shown an obvious 300‑yard gash in the visible liner, and crews installed chain‑link fencing and black screening that has limited full public inspection of the basin.
- The $14–16 million fast‑tracked renovation used a polyurea‑type liner and no‑bid awards to private firms, but the coating quickly peeled and algae blooms returned, prompting short‑term fixes such as hydrogen peroxide dosing, nanobubble filtration and manual vacuuming.
- The dispute has spawned criminal charges for several people including Olympian David Hearn who has pleaded not guilty, preservation lawsuits and congressional requests for contract records that are likely to extend repairs and oversight of the project.