The National Park Service plans to begin draining the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool directly after America’s 250th birthday on July Fourth to repair any damage to the pool’s lining.
In a court filing late Wednesday, the park service’s deputy director for operations, Frank Lands, said the plan is to “conduct repairs, including assessing and repairing any damage to the lining.”
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The statement came after President Donald Trump indicated the pool repairs may not be finished in time for the semiquincentennial.
“We will drain some of the water, either immediately before or after the Fourth of July, to do the permanent repair,” he wrote in a Truth Social post on Tuesday.
Trump has blamed vandals for sabotaging the recently renovated reflecting pool. At least six people have been arrested, and seven others cited for allegedly damaging the historic landmark on the National Mall, according to the president.
The declaration submitted by Lands in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia recounted an incident in which some damage had been made earlier this month.
“On June 9, 2026, after the rehabilitation project was substantially complete, the U.S. Park Police responded to an NPS report of damage to the reflecting pool, including a caulk over the foam sealant that was cut with a sharp knife or razor and destruction of delaminating surface material,” the park service official wrote.
The statement is similar to Trump’s claim that the “American flag blue” pool sealant was cut. Additionally, Lands revealed that about 70 fence post tops were tossed into the pool. No information was provided about the alleged suspects.
The court filing pertains to a lawsuit filed by a nonprofit organization that wishes to halt the Trump administration’s repair work on the pool. Lands, who has been in his position since May 2023, said he would be willing to testify in court if needed, as he has “personal knowledge of all facts stated in this declaration.”
Also on Wednesday, the U.S. Park Police asked the public for its help in identifying a person accused of destroying government property at the reflecting pool on June 19. A surveillance camera installed nearby appeared to show a person kneeling, reaching into the pool, and pulling something out of the water. It was unclear if any damage had been made in the brief video.
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The Trump administration has raised concerns about suspected chemical vandalism that affected the water, which turned green at one point due to a severe algae bloom after the reflecting pool was refilled. The water appeared to be clear again on Wednesday night, according to social media posts.
Security has been tight around the pool since Trump started accusing people of vandalizing the tourist-heavy site. Workers erected fencing recently to protect the pool from further sabotage ahead of July Fourth. The Interior Department previously said the fencing was already supposed to go up before the federal holiday, as has been the case in prior years.
