In early 2023, the Trump administration launched a high-profile project to renovate the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary on July 4. The initiative aimed to repair the pool’s chronic leaks and persistent algae growth by applying an innovative polyurea coating, a waterproof and antimicrobial liner touted to last 100 years. However, the project quickly faced significant challenges, drawing scrutiny over its management, contracting processes, and final outcome.
The effort was initially spearheaded by David Schutzenhofer, manager of a Trump Organization golf club in New Jersey, who became involved in an unofficial capacity after attending a trade show in Las Vegas. Though lacking formal engineering or architectural experience, Schutzenhofer proposed the polyurea liner solution after consulting with vendors such as Rodney Jarboe, president of Creative Polymers in Missouri. The coating, associated with companies including Rhino Linings and Atlantic Industrial Coatings, was described internally as a seamless, monolithic system to prevent leaks and algae, but its application faced tight deadlines mandated by President Trump.
The Interior Department, led by Secretary Doug Burgum, granted no-bid contracts to Atlantic Industrial Coatings and Greenwater Services, a move that bypassed standard government procurement rules and consultations with preservationists. The department cited the urgent deadline as justification for accelerating approvals and limiting oversight. Atlantic, a first-time government contractor, was awarded approximately $14.7 million and a higher-than-usual profit margin despite internal concerns about inflated costs.
By June, after the project’s declaration of completion, the polyurea liner began to peel and blister, and algae quickly reemerged in abundance. The Reflecting Pool’s appearance deteriorated, undermining President Trump’s claims that the renovation was a permanent fix and that the special coating would endure for a century. The situation was further complicated by the removal of water-treatment nanobubblers during a high-profile event, which contributed to the algae resurgence.
In response to the visible damage, President Trump attributed the pool’s condition to acts of vandalism, including alleged cuts to the liner with a “box cutter” and claims that fertilizer had been introduced to the water. However, investigations revealed that the only verified damage involved cuts to the pool’s caulking—not the liner itself—and no evidence supported the fertilizer accusation. The administration’s efforts to frame vandalism as the cause led to arrests and criminal charges against at least seven individuals, including David Hearn, a former U.S. Olympian. Hearn faced felony destruction of government property, while others were charged with misdemeanors.
The legal cases took a dramatic turn when Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for Washington, publicly disclosed that prosecutors had been misled by Interior Department officials regarding the extent of vandalism. In a court filing, Pirro acknowledged that the pool’s problems resulted from faulty and rushed installation, not deliberate damage by the public. She moved to dismiss charges against multiple defendants, including Hearn, whose case was subsequently dropped by a federal judge.
The move sparked tension within the administration. President Trump criticized Pirro for abandoning the vandalism narrative, and an Oval Office meeting ensued involving Pirro, Burgum, and senior White House aides, during which Pirro confronted Burgum over allegations of misleading the president. Despite the public dispute, Pirro retained her position at that time.
Ultimately, the Reflecting Pool was closed and drained ahead of the July 4 celebrations, falling short of the project’s goals. With the blue polyurea coating peeling away and the pool’s surface covered in algae and debris, the landmark presented a stark contrast to its intended restoration. The company responsible for the application pledged to honor its warranty as plans for further repairs were set in motion, leaving the renovation as a costly and controversial chapter in efforts to rehabilitate the nation’s capital.