Overview
- The National Park Service began draining the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool for another round of cleaning and repairs, a process that crews started late last week and continued into Monday as teams removed algae and fireworks debris.
- President Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum say the pool was emptied to fix damage they attribute to vandalism and they contend photographs exist to prove deliberate cuts; the administration has charged several people, including David Hearn, who has pleaded not guilty.
- Reporters who inspected the drained basin documented widespread peeling and discoloration of the recently applied dark blue coating but did not locate the long, continuous gash the president publicly described.
- Short-term fixes used so far have included hydrogen peroxide dosing, vacuuming and nanobubble/ozone treatment, while contractors and Park Service officials say fuller pipe and liner repairs are planned under warranty once the site is accessible.
- The project’s expedited, largely no-bid contracts and roughly $14–16 million price tag have drawn congressional letters and preservation lawsuits that seek contract files, water records and the photos the Interior Department says support its vandalism claim.