The Trump administration has confirmed it will continue working with the same contractor responsible for repairing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, even after the project's cost increased dramatically and new damage appeared shortly after the work was completed.
Speaking during television interviews on Sunday, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum defended both the contractor and the quality of the repairs. He said the overwhelming majority of the pool's surface remains in excellent condition and argued that only a very small section was damaged by acts of vandalism rather than construction problems.
According to Burgum, officials believe several cuts were intentionally made to the protective liner installed at the bottom of the pool. He explained that the damaged sections represent only a tiny percentage of the entire project, while the rest of the liner remains intact. Because of that assessment, the administration has decided not to seek new bids or replace the company responsible for the work.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly blamed vandals for the issues affecting the Reflecting Pool. He has said investigators possess photographs showing damage to the liner and indicated those images could be presented as evidence during future court proceedings. Trump also praised the contractor's performance and insisted the repairs themselves were not the source of the problem.
The Reflecting Pool, located between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, recently underwent a major restoration project as part of a broader effort to improve the appearance of Washington, D.C., ahead of celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the United States.
The project included draining the historic pool, applying a new blue protective coating to its concrete floor, and installing a nanobubble water treatment system designed to reduce algae growth and improve water quality. Officials initially announced that the work would cost approximately $1.8 million, but federal records later showed the total cost had increased to more than $16 million.
Soon after the pool was refilled, however, new concerns emerged. The water once again developed algae, and sections of the newly installed liner began peeling. Workers later returned to the site to begin evaluating repairs covered under the contractor's warranty.
Atlantic Industrial Coatings, the Virginia-based company hired for the restoration, acknowledged that several small areas require repairs but stated that these issues do not represent a failure of the overall project. The company said it plans to complete the necessary repairs after the pool is drained again.
Federal authorities are also investigating several incidents of alleged vandalism connected to the Reflecting Pool. The Department of the Interior announced that multiple people have either been arrested or cited in relation to the case.
Among those charged is former U.S. Olympic canoeist David Hearn, who faces a felony property destruction charge. Prosecutors allege he intentionally pulled part of the pool's protective liner, causing more than $1,000 in damage.
Hearn disputes those allegations. He says he merely touched a loose piece of material while stopping at the Reflecting Pool during a long bicycle ride and insists he never intentionally removed or damaged the liner. His attorneys argue the criminal case unfairly shifts responsibility away from the government's handling of the restoration project.
The controversy has also expanded beyond the repair work itself. President Trump suggested the vandalism may be connected to another investigation involving markings that recently appeared on the National Mall. Authorities continue to examine that claim, although no official evidence has publicly linked the two incidents.
Separately, environmental concerns have emerged after several dead ducks were discovered near the Reflecting Pool during the repair process. A local wildlife organization has recovered the animals and is conducting examinations to determine whether their deaths were related to algae, chemicals used during restoration, or other environmental factors. Officials say the investigation remains ongoing, and no conclusions have been announced.
Despite criticism over rising costs and continuing repairs, the Trump administration maintains that the restoration project remains largely successful and that only limited damage caused by vandalism needs to be addressed before the Reflecting Pool is fully restored.
