The National Guard Is Now Patrolling the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool After Trump’s $14.7 Million Paint Job Started Peeling Off
The new blue paint started peeling off the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool less than two weeks after Trump declared the $14.7 million renovation complete on June 6. The 2,000-foot pool has also turned green from an algae bloom.
The project was originally pitched as a quick $1.8 million fix: resealing, waterproofing, and repainting the pool bottom in what Trump called “American flag blue” ahead of the July 4, 2026 anniversary of US independence. The final no-bid contract, awarded to Atlantic Industrial Coatings, ballooned to roughly $14.7 million.
National Guard members are now patrolling the perimeter alongside US Park Police, telling visitors not to touch the water or the peeling material floating on the surface. The Guard has maintained a presence in DC for months as part of the administration’s “Safe and Beautiful” initiative, with duties ranging from security to cleanup work.
US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said Sunday on Fox News that anyone caught vandalizing the pool will be fully prosecuted, and that citations have already been issued. She added that people caught adding products that generate algae could face more severe charges. At least five arrests have been reported, including three-time Olympic cyclist David Hearn, who was detained for several hours by Guard troops and Park Police after touching a piece of detached blue material. Hearn said he was only investigating reports of peeling and algae.
Trump has blamed vandals for the peeling paint and the green water, claiming Saturday without evidence that someone poured corrosive chemicals into the pool. On Friday he also accused ABC News journalist Jonathan Karl of “trying to rip the rubber off of the surface.” ABC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
National Park Service workers poured hydrogen peroxide into the pool earlier in the week to fight the algae. Officials say it will be drained again so the contractor can handle repairs under warranty.
No widespread evidence of sabotage has surfaced in initial reporting.
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