Slapping an 'American flag blue' coat on the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool turns a solemn national landmark into something out of a resort brochure. The pool's dark, understated basin wasn't accidental — it was engineered to create a reflective corridor connecting the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial. Skipping required reviews under the National Historic Preservation Act and the National Environmental Policy Act makes this renovation legally indefensible.
The Reflecting Pool was a genuine mess — cracked foundations, broken pipes, fungus and trash — and Trump is fixing it for roughly $1.5 million compared to the $34 million spent under Obama. The same nonprofit that sued to block the privately funded White House Ballroom is now weaponizing preservation law to stop a cost-effective renovation timed for the World Cup and the 250th national celebration. Blocking a practical, affordable fix to score political points is a disservice to every American who visits the Mall.
© 2026 Improve the News Foundation.
All rights reserved.
Version 7.4.1