President Donald Trump has blamed 'vandals' for algae and peeling paint issues at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, just weeks after a $14.7 million renovation. He threatened a 10-year prison sentence for anyone caught damaging the landmark.
The situation highlights concerns about the management and cost of public infrastructure projects, as well as the political rhetoric surrounding alleged vandalism of national landmarks.
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington is scheduled to be drained again for repairs following the appearance of algae and peeling paint shortly after a $14.7 million renovation. President Donald Trump has attributed these problems to 'vandals' and threatened prosecution, citing a potential 10-year prison sentence for destruction of federal property. Critics have questioned the no-bid contract for the recent recoating and expressed concern for the ducks using the pool. National Park Service staff have attempted to combat the algae with hydrogen peroxide. Trump suggested a significant slit in the pool and potential fertilizer use contributed to the algae growth, indicating the pool might be drained and refilled for a second time this month.