Why was Washington reflecting pool drained again weeks after $14M renovation

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., has been drained again for cleaning and repair work weeks after a $14 million renovation came under scrutiny over visible deterioration and alleged vandalism, Reuters reported.President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that authorities emptied the pool to repair damage he attributed to vandals. He claimed the pool’s basin had been slashed across roughly 300 yards and that sections of its floor had been cut and pulled upward.“We drained the beautiful Reflecting Pool today in order to fix the scars and damage,” Trump wrote, adding that the pool would be refilled and returned to service soon.The latest repairs follow a renovation ordered during Trump’s administration that included the installation of a new waterproof liner and blue protective coating. Within weeks of the project’s completion, the pool drew attention when algae growth turned the water green, and parts of the coating began peeling, raising questions about the refurbishment’s durability.The Reflecting Pool, one of Washington’s most visited landmarks, remains temporarily out of service while repair work continues.