Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is painted American Flag Blue

5 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 10

At the Washington monument, Trump said the 2,030ft pool was resurfaced in about two weeks and would cost $1.5m-$2m, though the New York Times reported a $6.9m no-bid contract.
The 1922 pool has long suffered leaks, algae, faulty pipes and structural deterioration, and it remains unclear whether the paint-and-grout approach will resolve the underlying problems.
The project is part of Trump's wider push to remake Washington before the US 250th birthday, while critics say legal safeguards were bypassed to advance a presidential vanity project.

What emergency justified a $6.9 million no-bid contract to change the color of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool?

Can a $6.9 million paint job fix a monument that decades of complex engineering solutions could not?

Does painting the Reflecting Pool bright blue honor its history or turn a solemn landmark into a swimming pool?