- President Donald Trump attributed issues with the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, including algae blooms and peeling paint, to "deranged" vandals, claiming they used knives and fertilizer.
- Government documents obtained by The New York Times, however, indicate that problems with the pool's renovation, such as malfunctioning algae-control devices and cuts in the foam layer, were known to workers and predated Trump's vandalism claims.
- The renovation, initially projected to cost under $2 million, ultimately exceeded $16 million, with substantial amounts allocated to no-bid contracts for painting and algae control.
- House Democrats have launched an investigation into these no-bid contracts, questioning the qualifications of the firms involved and demanding explanations for the project's failures.
- Despite Trump's assertions of sabotage and the pool being "beautifully new," workers observed issues with nanobubblers and peeling paint shortly after the $14 million refurbishment was completed in early June.
IN FULL
