A New York Times investigation has concluded that the troubles surrounding the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool were largely of President Donald Trump's own making.

The Reflecting Pool, one of the most visited sites on the National Mall and a centerpiece of the capital's ceremonial landscape, has long suffered from structural and maintenance issues. A major renovation undertaken in 2012 — the first in nearly a century — failed to fully resolve the problems. The pool has continued to leak, and algae growth has persisted in Washington's hot, humid climate.

Trump reportedly decided he could have the pool repaired quickly, in time for his July 4th celebrations. Rather than following the standard National Park Service planning process — which typically involves competitive bidding, engineering assessments, and historic preservation review under federal law — the administration turned to David Schutzenhofer, a manager at Trump's Bedminster golf club. Schutzenhofer had a background in the hospitality industry but possessed no engineering or architectural qualifications.

At a Las Vegas trade show, Schutzenhofer encountered companies proposing to line the pool with blue polyurea — a color described as "American flag blue" — a material the Park Service had not previously considered. Complicating matters further, Trump's own tariffs on resins imported from China significantly restricted the available options for pool liners.

The administration awarded a no-bid contract, bypassing the competitive procurement process federal agencies are generally required to follow for projects of this scale. Work commenced, and the Times found in internal documents that career officials' concerns regarding project risks, costs, contractor profit margins, and preservation reviews were either dismissed or downplayed.

Problems surfaced almost immediately. Bubbles and holes appeared in the lining, and sections began peeling. Algae also returned. According to prosecutors, the indictment of Olympian David Hearn revealed that a rushed schedule, weather delays, and installation flaws compounded the failures. Despite these warning signs, Trump publicly claimed the lining could last "100 years" and continued to tout the project as a success.

As conditions deteriorated, Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum attributed the damage to "liberal" vandals, alleging that individuals had cut the liner with a "box knife" and introduced chemicals into the water. Investigators subsequently debunked the vandalism theory, uncovering no evidence of foul play.

The defective lining ultimately had to be completely removed just weeks after the holiday event. The failed project cost taxpayers millions of dollars and forced the closure of the historic landmark for months of emergency repairs.

Court documents later revealed that Hearn, who had been hired as a consultant, had warned the administration about impending structural failures before he was scapegoated in the aftermath.