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4h ago

Reflecting Pool Drained for Third Time as Repair Work Resumes

Interior officials say the water was lowered to clear July Fourth fireworks debris to enable repairs for damage the administration says was deliberate.

FILE - As seen from the Washington Monument, construction of the White House ballroom continues, March 10, 2026, where the East Wing once stood. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, file)
Work continues on the construction of the ballroom at the White House, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Washington, where the East Wing once stood. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 23: The fountains in Lafayette Park are running again near the White House on June 23, 2026 in Washington, DC. The fountains in Lafayette Park have been restored by the National Park Service and are flowing after being shut off for nearly a decade. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 08: Demolition work continues where the East Wing once stood at the White House on December 08, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Donald Trump ordered the 123-year-old East Wing and Jacqueline Kennedy Garden leveled to make way for a new 90,000-square-foot ballroom that he says will cost around $300 million and will be paid for with private donations. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Overview

  • The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, which was drained Friday, is being pumped out again while crews perform repairs and remove debris left by July Fourth fireworks.
  • Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has characterized the drain as planned and said work will address what the administration says was deliberate damage reported in early June.
  • Law enforcement has arrested several people in connection with alleged vandalism including an indictment of former Olympian David Hearn who pleaded not guilty in court.
  • The renovation has repeatedly suffered algae blooms and visible peeling of a recently applied dark blue coating while century‑old circulation pipes were not fully replaced, prompting short‑term fixes such as peroxide dosing, vacuuming, and nanobubble/ozone systems.
  • The project was fast‑tracked under urgency contracts, has ballooned to more than $16 million, and now faces preservation lawsuits, congressional inquiries, and pending warranty work that will extend the timeline and public access to the pool.