Key facts
- Atlantic Industrial Coatings, the contractor for the Reflecting Pool renovation, admitted that "human oversight" and flaws in the repair plan caused the liner damage.
- The contractor cited insufficient primer application and incompatible chemicals in the liner layers as causes for blistering and separation.
- President Donald Trump had repeatedly blamed vandalism for the damage to the pool's blue liner.
- The Justice Department moved to dismiss vandalism charges against David Hearn after the Interior Department provided information showing flawed installation and a rush to finish the project caused the damage.
- The renovation cost $14.7 million and was expedited for completion before July 4th celebrations.
The company hired to renovate the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has acknowledged that "human oversight" and flaws in the repair plan caused the newly installed blue liner to peel and tear, according to documents reviewed by the New York Times. This contradicts President Donald Trump's repeated claims that vandals were responsible for the damage.
Atlantic Industrial Coatings, the contractor, stated in reports that crews failed to spray enough primer in certain places to properly bond the liner's layers. The company also noted that the design specified two incompatible chemicals that, when used in separate layers, caused the material underneath to blister and separate due to heat.
Prosecutors began moving to dismiss vandalism cases against individuals, including former US Olympian David Hearn, after the Interior Department indicated the damage resulted from flawed installation and a rushed schedule to complete the project before July 4th celebrations. The White House referred questions to the Interior Department, whose spokesperson reiterated claims of "major vandalism" despite the contractor's admissions.
The $14.7 million no-bid contract was awarded to Atlantic Industrial Coatings for repainting and waterproofing the pool's concrete floor. The renovation approach had not been previously tested and was reportedly partly designed by the general manager of one of Trump's golf clubs. Atlantic Industrial Coatings has stated it would repair the pool again under warranty.