Taxpayers Are on the Hook for Another Half-Million in Reflecting Pool Costs, Even as Interior Struggles to Justify the Ballooning Price Tag
A financial and logistical mess.
Taxpayers just got hit with another half-million-dollar bill for the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, pushing the total cost of its renovation to a staggering $14.7 million. Federal records show the latest transaction, a $460,000 expense on June 15, came just weeks after the contract jumped from $13.1 million to $14.2 million, per The Hill. What that money was spent on remains unclear, and neither the White House nor the Interior Department has offered any explanation.
This latest price hike is just the newest headache in a project that’s been plagued by problems from the start. The Reflecting Pool, a centerpiece of the National Mall for over a century, was supposed to get a fresh look with a new “American flag blue” coating. Instead, it’s become a financial and logistical mess.
The pool was refilled earlier this month, but algae quickly turned the water green again, forcing workers to dump hydrogen peroxide into it and deploy what the Interior Department called “advanced nanobubbler technology.” By June 17, officials claimed the water was “crystal clear” and that dead algae were being vacuumed up.
This seems to be a project that’s spiraling out of control
The Reflecting Pool’s troubles aren’t just about algae. Days after the pool was refilled, blue material at the bottom started peeling off in chunks, according to CNN. Videos show flaps of the coating floating to the surface, though it’s unclear whether it’s paint, sealant, or something else entirely.
Eddie Wood, the owner of Atlantic Industrial Coatings, the Virginia-based firm handling the renovation, said the images didn’t provide enough information to diagnose the problem. “There’s several things that we’ve got to address when we come back for maintenance, and anything like that will be addressed, if it’s a problem,” he said.
Tim Auerhahn, a pool infrastructure expert and chairman of the Aquatic Council, said the peeling could be a sign of a much bigger issue. “A coating system can fail for several reasons, including substrate preparation, surface contamination, application conditions, adhesion issues, product selection, mechanical damage, environmental exposure, or a combination of factors,” he explained.
The real question, he added, is whether this is a localized problem or a systemic failure. If the coating is losing adhesion in multiple spots, it could mean the entire project is at risk. That’s a terrifying thought when you remember this renovation was supposed to cost just $1.8 million. Now, it’s nearly eight times that amount, and the pool is still a mess.
The Reflecting Pool’s problems aren’t new
In 2012, the Obama administration spent $34 million on an 18-month renovation to fix the same issues – algae, leaks, and general disrepair. That effort failed almost immediately. The pool turned into a murky, smelly eyesore filled with algae, bird waste, and dead ducks.
It became a political punching bag, and when the current administration took over, they promised to fix it once and for all. Instead, they’ve repeated the same mistakes, just with a fancier price tag.
The money for this project is coming from the Recreation Enhancement Fee Program, which is funded by park visitor entrance fees. That’s right – your national park admission fees are paying for this. Conservation advocates are furious.
Aaron Weiss, executive director for the Center for Western Priorities, didn’t mince words. “It’s a shame. This is money that came from our park entrance fees and should be going to urgent park maintenance needs around the country,” he said. “Instead, Doug Burgum is throwing good money after bad as his ‘American Flag Blue’ coating doesn’t last a week.” Weiss was referring to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who’s overseeing the project.
The pool is just one of several high-profile D.C. projects the administration is pushing
Ahead of the nation’s 250th birthday, Trump has made it clear he wants Washington to look its best, and he’s not shy about touting these projects as major accomplishments. But at what cost? The administration is spending tens of millions of dollars on these efforts, and so far, the results are underwhelming.
The Reflecting Pool is the most visible example, but it’s not the only one. Plans for a ballroom at the White House’s East Wing, a towering arch near Arlington National Cemetery, and a “National Garden of American Heroes” with 250 lifelike statues are all in the works. If the Reflecting Pool is any indication, these projects could end up costing far more than expected, and delivering far less.
The administration is rushing to make Washington look better, but it’s cutting corners and ignoring history. The pool has been a problem for a century, and no amount of hydrogen peroxide or nanobubbler technology is going to change that.
The real solution would be a long-term plan that addresses the root causes of the algae and structural issues. Instead, we’re getting quick fixes and skyrocketing costs. The blue coating was supposed to be a symbol of patriotism, but now it’s just another symbol of waste.
(Featured image: G. Edward Johnson)
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