Donald Trump just revealed how much the Reflecting Pool renovation will actually cost, and the number keeps climbing. The president addressed the project’s ballooning price tag and timeline as a federal judge weighed a lawsuit seeking to halt the work.
Donald Trump reveals reflecting pool will cost nearly $20M
President Donald Trump told reporters Thursday that his Reflecting Pool renovation will cost “less than $20 million,” CNN reported. He originally estimated the project at $2 to $3 million for basic interior work. However, a recent visit prompted him to expand the scope significantly. “When I went there last week, I saw the exterior was in very bad shape,” Trump said in the Oval Office.
Federal records already show the project’s price tag reaching $13.1 million. Trump had initially quoted the cost at just $1.8 million. He pointed to previous government estimates of $350 million for similar repairs. “It was going to take four years, $350 million. I’ll be doing it in basically a couple of months,” he said.
The president wants the project finished before July 4 and called it “probably at three quarters done.” He has repeatedly criticized the pool’s condition, calling it feces-infested and in disrepair. Trump chose a dark blue color he calls “American Flag Blue” for the renovation. Historians argue that the shade makes the site resemble a swimming pool rather than a reflective civic landscape.
A federal judge heard arguments Thursday from a nonprofit suing to halt the work. US District Judge Carl Nichols, a Trump appointee, appeared reluctant to issue an injunction. “It seems to me that if there is any harm to be done it is both reparable and temporary,” Nichols said. He did not rule from the bench during the hearing.
The Cultural Landscape Foundation claims the project violates federal laws requiring public consultation and environmental review. The Justice Department countered that officials properly excluded the project from an environmental assessment. Attorneys also argued the work qualifies as “routine maintenance” under the National Historic Preservation Act.
Originally reported by Vritti Johar on Mandatory.com.
