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Blue Paint on Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Begins Peeling
Strips of the new blue paint applied to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool are lifting away and floating on the water. Algae remain visible along the edges despite cleaning efforts that included hydrogen peroxide.
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Strips of the blue paint applied to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool are peeling away, exposing the darker surface underneath. National Park Service crews observed the chipping on the west side of the pool around June 18, 2026. Floating paint fragments were visible on the water the same day. Algae continued to appear along the pool edges despite ongoing removal work.
June 16, a National Park Service employee used a vacuum pump to remove algae from the pool bottom. Crews had previously added hydrogen peroxide after the new paint turned the water bright green. The pool received a fresh coat of American flag blue paint ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary. The project was ordered by President Donald Trump.
The work has exceeded the initial estimate of under $2 million and reached $6 million, according to a federal spending database. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum posted a time-lapse video of the painting process last week. The Interior Department’s media office did not respond to a request for comment on June 19, 2026.
The department’s X account stated that nanobubbler technology had killed the algae and that crews were vacuuming the remains.
