Overview
- This week crews began draining the 6.5‑million‑gallon Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool so contractors can remove algae and debris and repair the pool lining.
- The White House and Interior officials attribute the damage to deliberate cuts and have described very long slashes in the new liner, but they have not publicly released the photos they say exist and reporters who viewed the drained basin reported peeling and algae without seeing a large gash.
- Federal prosecutors have charged multiple people in connection with the pool damage, including former Olympian David Hearn who has pleaded not guilty, and local enforcement has increased security around the National Mall.
- The renovation was fast‑tracked under urgency, cost about $14–15 million and used no‑bid contracts to Atlantic Industrial Coatings and smaller firms, and the administration has tapped the original contractor to perform warranty work.
- Preservation experts warn that century‑old circulation pipes were not fully replaced and that surface fixes may not stop recurring algae problems, and congressional inquiries and lawsuits are expected to probe contracting and workmanship.