Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Drained for Basin Repairs After Vandalism Charges

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was drained on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, to repair cuts and slashes in its basin. The National Park Service reported last month that the damage was inflicted by a sharp knife. More than $14 million has been spent on renovations to the pool since the project began in April 2026.

President Donald Trump stated on social media that the damage occurred two weeks earlier when vandals cut the floor and pulled sections upward with great force, creating 300-yard slashes. The Justice Department has charged four people with vandalizing the reflecting pool. U.S.

Olympian David Hearn is among those charged and entered a not guilty plea last week. Trump posted on Monday that the Parks Department emptied the water to fix the water-tight basin and that it will be refilled soon. He added that the vandals should pay a big price for the damage.

The National Park Service and the president have not shared evidence supporting the vandalism claims. On the same day the pool was drained, President Trump met with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi in the Oval Office. The meeting marked al-Zaidi's first foreign trip since taking office in May 2026.