The company that originally applied the sealant to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool will also be responsible for its upcoming repairs, according to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. The Trump administration is preparing to drain a portion of the pool's 6.75 million gallons to address damage to the liner, which has seen sealant peel off.
"We will use the same company because they did a fantastic job," Burgum said Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union." He described the damage as a small fraction of the overall pool, stating, "Even with this damage of the gash that we're talking about, you're talking about, again, this is — the size of eight football fields. It is eight acres, and we're talking about like .001%."
Burgum emphasized the quality of the previous work, adding, "The job that was done to fix the Reflecting Pool was done extremely well."
The Reflecting Pool underwent $16 million in renovations by the Trump administration in April. These repairs included applying a liner to the bottom, fixing leaks, and installing an ozone nanobubbler system to combat algae. Shortly after its reopening, the pool experienced an algae bloom, which crews treated with hydrogen peroxide. Subsequently, observers noticed pieces of the blue sealant detaching from the pool.
During the renovation period, President Trump's motorcade reportedly crossed the Reflecting Pool. Some critics speculated this action may have contributed to the sealant's peeling. However, Burgum, who was present with the president that night, stated they were traveling in a Cadillac Escalade, a lighter vehicle than the presidential limousine, referred to as "The Beast." He also noted that the industrial rubber layer of the pool's base was not fully completed at the time, asserting that no damage occurred that night.
Officials from the Trump administration and the Justice Department have suggested that vandals were responsible for the sealant issue. U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced charges last week against former Olympic canoeist David Hearn, alleging he damaged the liner. Hearn faces up to 10 years in prison, and his attorney has indicated they will contest the charges.
The Virginia-based company Atlantic Industrial Coatings was contracted by the Department of the Interior to apply the sealant for the 2,030-foot-long pool.