Reflecting Pool being drained – again – as Trump administration tries once more to fix landmark
Reflecting Pool Drained Again for Repairs
Fireworks Debris and Vandalism Prompt Action
Reflecting Pool being drained – Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced that maintenance crews commenced draining the historic Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Sunday, marking the second time in just three months the iconic Washington D.C. landmark has been emptied. The operation follows the July Fourth fireworks celebration, during which some debris remained floating in the water. Speaking in an interview released Tuesday with Katie Miller—a conservative podcaster and spouse of President Trump’s deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller—Burgum confirmed the drainage began as originally scheduled.
When pressed regarding the timeline for this particular round of renovations, the Interior Secretary offered only a general outline of the process. “Drain the water. Clean up the fireworks stuff. Repair the vandalism that was done. Fill it back up again,” Burgum explained in straightforward terms. By Tuesday evening, water remained in the pool, leaving observers uncertain whether additional draining would occur. Over the weekend, Burgum had suggested the landmark might require only partial drainage rather than a complete emptying.
Mounting Problems Plague the Landmark
The Reflecting Pool has endured weeks of complications, including persistent algae blooms, water that took on a greenish tint, a chipping pool bottom, and accusations of vandalism. These accumulating issues have transformed the landmark’s troubles into a matter of national interest. Several members of the Trump administration, including President Donald Trump himself, have attributed damage to vandals who allegedly gashed the pool’s lining, though no concrete evidence has been presented to substantiate these assertions.
In late June, the president announced plans to drain the Reflecting Pool following the July Fourth holiday to address the mounting problems. For this latest round of repairs, the administration will retain Virginia-based Atlantic Industrial Coatings, the same contractor responsible for previous work. The company previously secured a no-bid contract exceeding $14 million to seal the pool and paint its bottom in what was described as “American Flag-blue.” When asked about the schedule for his portion of the repairs, Eddie Gross, owner of Atlantic Industrial Coatings, informed CNN that “nothing has been set yet.” Gross also declined to address inquiries regarding his contract terms and the expenses associated with additional repairs.
Cost Concerns and Damage Claims
The Department of Interior remained silent when questioned about the timeline for this current phase of repairs. However, during an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” program on Sunday, Burgum indicated that repairs could proceed even with the Reflecting Pool only partially drained. He attempted to minimize concerns about expenses, stating, “It’s going to be a small number because the majority of the work was related to the labor and the materials for the liner.” Burgum added, “We’ll use the same company, because they did a fantastic job.”
“It’s going to be a small number because the majority of the work was related to the labor and the materials for the liner,” Burgum said.
Regarding the vandalism allegations, Burgum asserted that the government could “absolutely” demonstrate that vandals caused the damage, citing photographs as supporting evidence. Nevertheless, he sidestepped a direct question about whether those photographs actually depicted individuals damaging the pool. The secretary also dismissed suggestions that President Trump’s motorcade driving through the Reflecting Pool during renovations in May caused any harm. “No, I was with him when we came that night … We were driving in a Cadillac Escalade. It is one of the presidential fleet of cars,” Burgum recounted. He emphasized that the vehicle used for the ride was “substantially lighter” than the heavily armored presidential limousine known as “The Beast.”
“The whole base level of this industrial rubber layer was not yet completed, and so there was no damage that night whatsoever,” he said.
Burgum further explained that officials had specifically questioned whether the motorcade would cause damage before allowing the presidential vehicles through, concluding there was “not a chance.” The industrial rubber layer, he noted, had not yet been fully installed at that time.
Other Contractors Remain Operational
Greenwater Services, another contractor participating in the renovation project, previously informed CNN that draining the Reflecting Pool would not disrupt their ongoing operations. Chas Antinone, president of Greenwater Services, told CNN that the company can temporarily shut down and subsequently restart their ozone nanobubbler system as needed. The contractor emphasized that their water treatment technology remains functional regardless of water levels, ensuring the landmark continues to receive proper maintenance throughout the repair process.
