What a new Justice Department filing says about the ‘botched’ Reflecting Pool renovation
What a new Justice Department filing reveals about the Reflecting Pool renovation
Healfromzero.com – What a new Justice Department filing has uncovered sheds fresh light on the troubled renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The DOJ announced on Friday that the rush to finish President Donald Trump’s $14 million upgrade resulted in “hasty and botched work.” This revelation directly challenges weeks of assertions from Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who blamed vandals for the pool’s deteriorating condition.
DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro attributed the problems to bad weather, testing failures, and shipment setbacks rather than vandalism. Meanwhile, Trump and Burgum continue to point fingers at alleged vandals for the algae blooms, green water, and deteriorating pool lining that emerged after the renovation.
Timeline of the botched renovation
Trump initiated the renovation in late March, describing the Reflecting Pool as “absolutely filthy” and promising to make it “look gorgeous.” The project scope expanded quickly, with Trump ordering cosmetic changes including painting the pool bottom “American flag blue.” This paint decision immediately triggered a lawsuit from a nonprofit group claiming the work violated federal consultation requirements.
“I disagree 100% with Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, on the Reflecting Pool. I don’t know what she was thinking? To me, it was a pure case of VANDALISM,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The administration aimed to complete the project before America’s 250th birthday on July Fourth. This expedited timeline drove costs to nearly seven times the initial $1.8 million estimate. Atlantic Industrial Coatings, a Virginia-based firm, began installing the new lining on May 5 using Rhino 406 and Pipeliner 5000 coating products across the nearly 340,000-square-foot pool.
Weather delays and quality issues
Spring showers significantly hampered the installation process, forcing crews to pump out rainwater to allow coatings to dry properly. An employee from Brown Construction Services noted on May 7 that Atlantic Industrial Coatings was “significantly behind schedule.” Problems intensified when the contractor ran out of Rhino 406 coating and a quality control inspector identified “blistering” in finished sections.
Crews completed a final inspection on June 9 and refilled the pool. CNN first observed algae growth the following day, visible from the water’s edge on the pool bottom. The administration had deployed Greenwater Services with a $1.7 million “ozone nanobubbler” to address algae and bacteria concerns, though accommodations were needed to meet the July Fourth deadline.
By June 11, a National Park Service engineer noticed peeling of the Reflecting Pool lining. The contractor attributed this to “overspray” from polyurea application along the perimeter joint. The engineer warned this could create a 1-to-2-foot strip “vulnerable to peeling,” though the contractor did not confirm this risk. This perimeter area is where former Olympian David Hearn was later accused of peeling the liner.
FAQ: Reflecting Pool renovation questions
What did the Justice Department filing say about the Reflecting Pool? The DOJ filing stated that hasty work during the rushed renovation led to botched results, contradicting claims that vandals caused the damage.
How much did the Reflecting Pool renovation cost? The renovation cost approximately $14 million, nearly seven times the initial $1.8 million estimate.
Who was David Hearn and what was he accused of? David Hearn, a former Olympian, was accused of vandalizing the Reflecting Pool by peeling the liner. The DOJ dropped the case against him following the new filing.
What caused the algae in the Reflecting Pool? Algae appeared after the pool was refilled on June 9. The administration deployed a $1.7 million ozone nanobubbler to address the issue.
Why was the renovation rushed? The Trump administration wanted to complete the project before America’s 250th birthday on July Fourth, which drove up costs and contributed to quality issues.