Key facts
- The contract for the Lincoln Memorial's Reflecting Pool has increased to $14.7 million.
- This represents an increase of over $1.5 million from the previous month's total of $13.1 million.
- The Trump administration is employing hydrogen peroxide to address an algal bloom in the pool.
- The Interior Department stated that the pool water is clear and algae is being removed.
The cost of a federal contract for work on the Lincoln Memorial's Reflecting Pool has risen to $14.7 million, an increase of over $1.5 million from the previous month's total of $13.1 million. Recent transactions on June 3 and June 15 brought the total cost up, with the latter adding approximately $460,000. This escalation in costs comes as the pool's algae bloom has become a subject of public attention. The Trump administration has stated that hydrogen peroxide is being used to combat the bloom, and the Interior Department noted that the water is clear and algae is being removed. The contract has also faced scrutiny regarding its profit margins. More broadly, the administration is allocating tens of millions of dollars to Washington D.C. projects in anticipation of the nation's 250th anniversary.