Workers Paint Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Basin Blue
Crews have drained the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and are applying blue paint to the concrete basin. The work is part of ongoing changes to federal properties in Washington, D.C.
foxnews.comWorkers in protective suits have drained the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and are coating the concrete basin with blue paint. Tourists are viewing the construction site instead of the monuments the pool was designed to reflect. C. President Trump has shared photos of a test strip showing the painted surface reflecting clouds and stone.
The work is scheduled for completion before July 4, 2026. Trump posted on Truth Social that the reflecting pool will be the largest of several fountain renovations completed by his administration. Federal reviews for changes to historic landscapes normally include the National Park Service, the National Capital Planning Commission, and the Commission of Fine Arts.
The Reflecting Pool project has not completed the full Section 106 review process under the National Historic Preservation Act.
2010 to 2012, the Obama administration spent more than $34 million restoring the pool structure and adding a filtration system. Algae appeared in the pool less than a month after that project reopened. Charles Birnbaum, president and CEO of the Cultural Landscape Foundation, said the pool bottom color affects how visitors see the Washington and Lincoln memorials.
The foundation filed a lawsuit last week against the Interior Department to halt the current changes.
Transparency
Reported by a single outlet. This score reflects source tier and factual specificity — corroboration is limited with one source.
Story details
Related Stories
The IndependentAppeals Court Allows White House to Resume Construction of Secure Ballroom and Counter-Drone Facility
U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ruled that President Trump lacks authority to build the 90,000-square-foot ballroom. An appeals court later allowed above-ground work to continue.
pakistantoday.com.pkBritish Man Extradited on AgustaWestland Bribery Charges Appeals Additional Forgery Count in Indian Supreme Court
Christian Michel, held since 2018 on bribery charges tied to a 2010 helicopter contract, will have his case heard by India’s Supreme Court in July 2026. His son says India is applying different standards to Michel than to diamond merchant Nirav Modi.
AxiosWhite House Releases Trump’s Latest Walter Reed Physical: President Found in Excellent Health at Age 79
The memo, issued at 10:44 p.m. ET on Friday, May 29, 2026, states that Trump is in excellent health and fully fit for duty. It includes details on his weight, cardiac age, and ongoing treatments.