Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the Trump administration will not rebid repairs at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, keeping the same contractor and planning a partial drain in the coming week.
Burgum blamed vandalism for the damage, saying multiple cuts totaled 350 feet and repairs could cost tens of thousands of dollars, though he did not directly say whether photographic evidence exists.
The project has drawn scrutiny after the pool was drained, painted “American flag blue,” then hit by an algae bloom and apparent peeling; it was also closed for the July 4 celebration, which Burgum attributed to fireworks safety.
Federal prosecutors last week indicted former Olympian David Hearn on a felony property-destruction charge tied to more than $1,000 in damage, while his lawyers called the case an abuse of government power.
The dispute is widening into a political fight over no-bid contracts — including $14.7 million for repainting and $1.7 million for water purification — with about 10 Democratic lawmakers investigating the project.