Same Company Getting Second Shot at Reflecting Pool After First Disaster

In what might be the most optimistic—or tone-deaf—decision in Washington’s recent history, the Trump Administration is handing the same contractor another chance at fixing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Yes, the same company whose liner peeled off shortly after installation, turning the water into an algae-filled mess just months ago.

Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum told CNN on Monday that the contractor“did a fantastic job,”apparently viewing the catastrophic failure as a learning opportunity. Meanwhile, the administration continues to insist the liner damage was vandalism—a claim that conveniently redirects blame away from the company’s workmanship and toward ex-Olympian David Hearn, who’s now facing charges for allegedly touching the water.

Here’s where it gets spicy: the initial renovation cost $14.7 million in taxpayer money. After the liner debacle, that bill ballooned to over $16 million. Burgum hasn’t announced when the new repairs will start, but based on the trajectory so far, taxpayers might want to set aside even more cash. There’s no word yet on what could go wrong this time around, but the pattern suggests we shouldn’t hold our breath—or maybe we should, given the water quality issues.