Justice Department Reveals Flaws in Reflecting Pool Renovation

WHO:

CNN - President Trump, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro, former Olympian David Hearn, Greenwater Services, Atlantic Industrial Coatings, Brown Construction Services.

WHAT:

CNN - The renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool cost $14 million.

CNN - Trump described the Reflecting Pool as “absolutely filthy” and vowed to make it “look gorgeous.”

CNN - The project was initially estimated to cost $1.8 million but ended up costing nearly seven times that amount.

CNN - Installation for the Reflecting Pool lining began on May 5.

CNN - The pool is nearly 340,000 square feet, approximately the size of six football fields.

CNN - A National Park Service engineer noted peeling of the Reflecting Pool lining on June 11.

CNN - Trump claimed that vandals caused a “250 foot long gash” in the pool and poured “corrosive and destructive chemicals” into it.

CNN - Trump stated that the algae was “75% gone” and that the “vandalized” area would be fixed in late June.

WHERE:

CNN - The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, Washington, D.C.

WHEN:

CNN - The renovation project was initiated in late March.

CNN - The final inspection of the site was completed on June 9.

CNN - The pool was drained again for repairs after July Fourth celebrations.

WHY:

CNN - The expedited timeline for the renovation was driven by the desire to complete it before America’s 250th birthday on July Fourth.

CNN - The Justice Department attributed the problems to bad weather, testing failures, and shipment setbacks.

HOW:

CNN - The renovation involved the use of two coating products: Rhino 406 and Pipeliner 5000.

CNN - Crews had to pump out rainwater to allow the coating to dry due to construction delays caused by spring showers.

CNN - The contractor monitoring the project flagged “blistering” in the finished portions of the lining, calling for repairs.

(UPDATED August 2, 2026 14:27 UTC)

The renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., has cost a staggering $14 million, significantly more than the initial estimate of $1.8 million. President Trump described the pool as “absolutely filthy” and vowed to restore its beauty, noting that the algae was “75% gone” and repairs would be completed by late June after the pool was drained for additional work following July Fourth celebrations. The project faced numerous challenges, including bad weather and construction delays, but crews have been actively addressing issues like peeling and blistering in the pool's lining.