politics
Reflecting Pool Renovation Continues After Cracks Appear in New Surface
President Trump posted images of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on social media over two days. Officials said further work is required to repair the surface and address water quality.
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The posts included photographs of visitors and National Guard personnel at the site, along with a comparison to an earlier renovation completed during the Obama administration. The same update compared the cleanup process to unrelated military events.
Officials said the pool must be drained again to address cracks and gaps in the recently refinished bottom surface. The president attributed the damage to vandalism, while grainy video footage released by the Interior Department shows individuals near the water's edge.
Seven people have been arrested on charges related to alleged tampering. One individual, a former Olympian, faces a destruction of property charge and maintains through counsel that the accusation is unfounded.
The renovation has cost roughly $16 million and involved two no-bid contracts. Democratic members of Congress are reviewing the project, including concerns about profit margins and overhead on one contract. The administration plans to retain the current contractors. Experts have stated that longer-term plumbing repairs will be needed to maintain consistent water levels.
