A chain-link fence blocking the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool could remain until early next year. The barrier appeared after President Donald Trump ordered a makeover of the historic Washington, D.C. landmark. What began as a $2 million project slated for completion before July 4 has since spiralled to nearly $15 million. The “American Flag Blue” paint specified by Trump peeled away in large patches, while an algae bloom turned the water murky green.
Federal records show the fence contract around the Reflecting Pool runs through January 8, 2027
Procurement documents reviewed by The Independent show the contract runs through January 8, 2027, prolonging public frustration over the site’s renovation. It also revealed that National Construction Rentals, Inc. of Mission Hills, California, secured the $37,263 fencing job. The same firm was hired by the Secret Service in 2019 to install barricades around Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club, costing taxpayers roughly $17,000.
Trump has avoided stating when the fence around the Reflecting Pool will come down. A White House statement blamed “crazed and deranged lunatics” for damage to the pool, without providing evidence. Several arrests have been made, including U.S. Olympic canoeist David Hearn, who pleaded not guilty last week. He maintains he simply reached into the pool and briefly touched the bottom out of curiosity.
Moreover, Craig Holman, a federal ethics expert at the watchdog group Public Citizen, called the fencing unnecessary. “The fencing around the reflecting pool is wholly unnecessary and the result of Trump trying to cover up a costly mistake,” Holman told the outlet. “There are no dangers either to the reflecting pool or to sightseers curious about the flaking of the paint job. The purpose of the fencing is simply to prevent curious citizens from gathering and displaying the fraying paint flakes.”
Before the project soured, Trump boasted about his chosen contractor. After the results drew criticism, Trump denied any connection to the painting company. Now, crews have hung black tarps on the fence. The pool will be drained for the second time in three months for ongoing repairs. The White House has not made an official comment.
Originally reported by Devanshi Basu on Mandatory.
