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Trump says Reflecting Pool has been drained and will be ‘put back into service soon’

Crews are removing 4 million gallons of water to inspect damage, clear fireworks debris and address algae and peeling coating, officials said.

  • The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has been drained yet again, as the Trump administration struggles to resolve persistent, high-profile issues plaguing its recent multimillion-dollar renovation.
  • Interior Secretary Doug Burgum confirmed the planned draining began shortly after July 4, explaining that crews need to clear out debris from the massive Independence Day fireworks show, assess structural damage, and refill it.
  • The administration continues to blame the pool's peeling lining on "vandals," with the National Park Service alleging that a sharp knife or razor was deliberately used to slash the newly applied sealant. Multiple individuals, including a former Olympic cyclist, have been arrested and charged.
  • Critics and defense lawyers argue the "vandalism" claims are a political scapegoat meant to cover up shoddy workmanship. Within days of the pool's June reopening, the newly applied "American Flag Blue" coating began peeling and the water was hit with severe algae blooms.
  • Congressional Democrats are investigating the project's ballooning costs, raising questions about nepotism and why a project Trump initially claimed would cost $1.5 million to $2 million ultimately resulted in more than $16 million in taxpayer-funded, no-bid contracts.
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Newsweek broke the news in New York, United States on Monday, July 13, 2026.
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