Burgum Defends Lincoln Memorial Amid Media Scrutiny and Repair Halt

WHO:

Fox News - Interior Secretary Doug Burgum

PBS - President Trump

PBS - U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro

PBS - Former Olympian David Hearn

PBS - Lawyers Norm Eisen and Mary Dohrmann

WHAT:

Fox News - Vandals physically cut the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool's new liner.

PBS - The Trump administration will not seek new bids to repair the Reflecting Pool.

PBS - A 350-foot gash was cut into the pool's liner during renovations.

PBS - Burgum stated that the pool would need to be at least partially drained to finish repairs.

PBS - Burgum described the vandalism as small but potentially costing tens of thousands of dollars to repair.

PBS - Authorities have arrested more than a half dozen people related to the Reflecting Pool damage.

PBS - David Hearn was indicted on a felony of property destruction for causing more than $1,000 in damage.

PBS - Hearn allegedly ripped up recently installed sealant in a "deliberate act."

WHERE:

PBS - Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, National Mall, Washington, D.C.

WHEN:

PBS - Trump pledged to beautify the Reflecting Pool before the nation's 250th birthday celebrations on July Fourth.

PBS - Hearn was indicted last week.

WHY:

PBS - Burgum and Trump asserted that vandalism caused the damage to the Reflecting Pool.

PBS - Burgum stated that the repairs would not be opened to new contractors because the current company did a "fantastic job."

HOW:

PBS - The pool was closed for the Independence Day celebration due to a safety issue related to fireworks.

PBS - The top federal prosecutor accused Hearn of "forcefully and violently" pulling up the bottom liner.

(UPDATED July 6, 2026 06:24 UTC)

Vandals have caused significant damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, cutting a 350-foot gash into its new liner during renovations, which authorities say could cost tens of thousands of dollars to repair. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced that the pool would need to be partially drained to complete the repairs, and more than a half dozen people have been arrested in connection with the vandalism, including former Olympian David Hearn, who was indicted for property destruction. President Trump previously pledged to beautify the Reflecting Pool ahead of the nation's 250th birthday celebrations on July Fourth, but now the administration will not seek new bids for the repairs, citing satisfaction with the current contractor's work.