Key facts
- The Trump administration is battling algae in the newly renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
- The Department of the Interior compared the algae cleanup effort to the US 'war' with Iran.
- Paint on the pool's bottom was peeling less than two weeks after its completion was announced.
- Workers are using hydrogen peroxide to combat the algae bloom.
- The refurbishment cost $14.7 million and was awarded via a no-bid contract.
Workers are engaged in a battle against algae in Washington's newly renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, a situation the Trump administration has controversially compared to its dealings with Iran. The historic pool underwent a $14.7 million refurbishment, ordered by President Donald Trump, with the aim of achieving an "American Flag blue" color. However, less than two weeks after Trump announced the job's completion, paint was observed peeling from the bottom, and workers began adding hydrogen peroxide to combat an algae bloom that had turned the water green instead of the expected dark blue.