Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Renovation Faces Scrutiny Over Contract, Algae, Peeling Paint

President Trump's initiative to renovate the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has encountered significant issues, including a no-bid contract, escalating costs, an algae bloom, and peeling paint, all occurring shortly after the project's completion. The renovations, intended to be finished before the U.S.'s 250th anniversary, have drawn criticism regarding the contracting process and the quality of the work.

The project first came under scrutiny when the Department of the Interior awarded a no-bid contract to Atlantic Industrial Coatings, a Virginia-based firm that had previously worked on pools at Trump's golf club and had no prior federal contracts. Reports indicated that the contract included an inflated profit margin, adding at least $850,000 to the project's cost, which federal records show has ballooned to $14.7 million.

Shortly after the renovations were completed, the Reflecting Pool developed a substantial algae bloom, prompting the Department of the Interior to use nanobubbler technology and hydrogen peroxide to combat the growth. The department noted that algae issues have historically affected the pool since its reopening in 1922, including during the Obama administration.

Furthermore, the specially selected dark blue paint for the pool's bottom began peeling away and floating to the surface within two weeks of its application, despite President Trump's praise for its durability on social media.