Why Trump’s Reflecting Pool Repairs Are in Trouble

Why It Matters

The mismanaged reflecting‑pool project highlights potential legal exposure for the administration and signals costly, recurring maintenance challenges for a national symbol, affecting public trust and future federal contracting practices.

Key Takeaways

• Trump’s reflecting pool contract ballooned from $1.8M to $13.1M.
• No‑bid award bypassed federal procurement rules, raising legal concerns.
• Waterproof coating shows bubbles, holes, and uneven blue color.
• Work progress lagging; joint replacement still at 0% after deadline.
• Past Obama‑era fixes failed, risking recurring algae blooms.

Summary

The Interior Department’s effort to repaint and waterproof the Lincoln Memorial’s reflecting pool has run into serious trouble, with the project’s cost spiraling from the $1.8 million figure President Trump cited to roughly $13.1 million, and the work lagging far behind its aggressive schedule.

The contract was awarded without competition on the grounds of urgency, sidestepping standard federal bidding rules. Interior officials report that only about 35 % of the waterproof coating has been applied, while the critical joint‑replacement phase remains at zero percent, jeopardizing the May‑22 deadline set for the 250th‑anniversary celebration.

Trump defended the deal in a lengthy Truth Social post, claiming the contractor is “unbelievable” at swimming‑pool work, even as staff observed bubbles, small holes, and uneven blue pigment in the coating. Critics note that the Obama administration spent over $35 million on similar fixes that ultimately failed, and that without proper plumbing repairs the pool will likely revert to algae‑laden green.

The botched procurement and delayed execution expose the administration to legal scrutiny, raise questions about stewardship of historic landmarks, and could force another costly remediation cycle, underscoring the broader risks of bypassing established contracting safeguards.

Original Description

Federal records show that the no-bid contract to repair the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and paint it blue now costs $13.1 million. That’s about seven times the amount President Trump initially said it would cost. Our reporter David Fahrenthold explains. #lincolnmemorial #trump

Video by David A. Fahrenthold, Nikolay Nikolov, Gilad Thaler, Rafaela Balster, Léo Hamelin, Stephanie Swart and Whitney Shefte/The New York Times

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