FBI Investigates $16 Million Lincoln Reflecting Pool Damage as New Blue Lining Peels
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 15
FBI Investigates $16 Million Lincoln Reflecting Pool Damage as New Blue Lining Peels
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 15
Summary
FBI evidence specialists entered the drained Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Wednesday, using laser-scanning and measuring equipment to document damage for a U.S. Park Police investigation.
The inspection followed the failure of a newly installed blue waterproof lining, with sections peeling off the 2,000-foot concrete floor and floating to the surface; algae blooms had also turned the water bright green.
The Trump administration spent more than $16 million on the century-old pool this year, awarding rushed no-bid contracts to upgrade filtration and waterproofing before the July 4 celebrations marking the nation’s 250th birthday.
Trump has blamed both the lining damage and algae problems on vandals, saying in social-media posts this week that the liner had been cut with a knife or box cutter.