Trump Botches $14 Million Reflecting Pool Makeover as Algae, Paint Debris Mar National Mall
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Jun 23
Trump Botches $14 Million Reflecting Pool Makeover as Algae, Paint Debris Mar National Mall
3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Jun 23
Summary
$14 million later, the National Mall’s Reflecting Pool is showing algae-green water, floating blue paint chips and even a dead duck after Trump’s promised quick refurbishment.
Trump had said in April the job would take one week and cost about $1.5 million, but the project stretched to six weeks as he bypassed normal review and used no-bid contractors with prior ties.
Preservation experts said skipping legally required historic-review processes increased the risk of exactly this outcome on one of Washington’s most sensitive public sites.
Trump has blamed vandals without producing evidence and still called the 2,028-foot pool “fantastic” on Tuesday, keeping attention on a project critics say underscores his second-term image-building drive.