President Donald Trump has launched several construction projects in Washington D.C. since early 2026, including a renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The project has drawn legal challenges, bipartisan criticism, and scrutiny over funding, with costs escalating from $1.5 million to over $16 million.

The Reflecting Pool renovation was announced in April 2026 with Trump saying it would be resurfaced with blue industrial coating, scrapping a $301 million granite plan. By May, the administration awarded no-bid contracts worth $20 million to Atlantic Industrial Coatings, a company with ties to Trump's Virginia golf course. On May 11, the Cultural Landscape Foundation sued over the plan, alleging violations of the National Historic Preservation Act, according to NPR.

Five days later, Trump claimed the renovation was ahead of schedule despite reports it might miss a May 22 deadline, saying the pool would be resurfaced with "American flag blue" paint and leaks would be fixed, according to Forbes. On May 20, Trump faced backlash for saying the pool would be made "waterproof" during renovations, with critics questioning his mental sharpness, though no medical evidence supports claims of cognitive decline, International Business Times UK reported.

After the pool was refilled, algae appeared and the coating began peeling. By June 18, International Business Times UK reported paint was stripping and algae had bloomed due to high pH levels, with the total cost reaching $14.8 million. Forbes reported the following day that blue paint was peeling from the pool bottom. On June 20, Trump claimed the pool was intentionally vandalized by "Radical Left Lunatics" and said law enforcement was investigating, according to WION News. Three days later, Trump threatened a 10-year prison sentence for anyone caught vandalizing, though he provided no evidence, according to Deutsche Welle.

Multiple people were arrested, including former Olympic canoeist David Hearn, 67, who was indicted on July 2 for allegedly causing more than $1,000 in damage to the sealant. On July 9, Hearn pleaded not guilty to felony destruction of property in D.C. Superior Court. CBS News reported Hearn was accused of ripping out sealant from the pool on June 19, while NPR noted he told the court he had only touched the water out of curiosity. His attorneys called the case politically motivated.

On July 5, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the algae came from pipes — not vandals — while backing Trump's assertion that gashes in the coating were vandalism. Burgum said the same contractor would fix the damage without new bids. By July 10, crews began draining the pool for the third time. The Guardian reported the project has cost over $16 million. Six people have been arrested. Democratic lawmakers are investigating the no-bid contracts.

On July 14, Trump posted on Truth Social that the pool had been drained again to fix damage from alleged vandals, now claiming slashes 300 yards long. CBS News reported the National Park Service said damage was caused by a sharp knife, while Forbes noted no evidence has been made public. Critics have blamed incompetence in the repair work rather than sabotage, according to The Independent. On July 15, Forbes reported that photos of the drained pool show no visible gash matching Trump's claim, and The Independent added that while seven people have been charged, none have been charged directly with slashing the liner.

On July 16, FBI agents searched the drained reflecting pool using laser-scanning equipment to investigate alleged damage, according to The Independent. The following day, Trump said he is looking for "vandal proof" material to replace the pool floor after an alleged 350-foot slit appeared, according to The Independent. A Forbes analysis cited a Washington Post report that the peeling may be due to installation issues rather than vandalism. Photos and reporters have found no visible evidence of a gash.

On July 20, a trial date of September 28 was set for David Hearn on the felony property destruction charge, according to The Independent. He has pleaded not guilty and seeks dismissal citing evidence handling issues. On the same day, D.C. Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman warned the Trump administration to halt work on the pool while evidence is collected in the case, noting the pool shows no visible signs of damage despite Trump's claims, according to Forbes. Three others face misdemeanor charges for removing paint from the pool. By July 22, the saga had drawn such public attention that local influencers were documenting daily updates on social media, attracting a national audience, according to NPR.

By late July, the renovations — initially fast-tracked with $16 million in no-bid contracts for completion ahead of July 4 — remained unfinished, with the pool drained and work delayed and over budget, according to The Independent. On July 27, Hearn requested complete grand jury transcripts, alleging irregularities in the case. His attorneys argued the pool had pre-existing damage and that a National Park Service official could not quantify damage attributable to Hearn, according to The Independent.