Interior Department Extends $37,000 Reflecting Pool Fence Contract to Jan. 8, 2027 as Costs Top $16 Million
Updated
Updated · The New Republic · Jul 15
Interior Department Extends $37,000 Reflecting Pool Fence Contract to Jan. 8, 2027 as Costs Top $16 Million
1 articles · Updated · The New Republic · Jul 15
Summary
$37,000 in Interior Department records shows the temporary fence around the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is contracted through Jan. 8, 2027, signaling the obstruction may remain for months.
The fencing, first installed June 23 and later covered with opaque mesh, was justified as protection against alleged vandalism during a renovation that has repeatedly stalled.
That project has been hit by algae blooms, peeling "American flag blue" lining and repeated drain-and-refill work, while its target date slipped beyond July 4.
Costs have climbed from an initial $1.8 million estimate to more than $16 million, underscoring how a relatively small fencing contract points to a much longer-running overhaul.