President Donald Trump announced plans to potentially drain the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool amid ongoing issues with the landmark’s renovation, marking the latest in a series of challenges faced by his administration in managing high-profile projects in Washington, D.C.

The Reflecting Pool, a key feature on the National Mall, had been the focus of a controversial refurbishing effort after the Trump administration awarded a no-bid contract to the designer responsible for the swimming pool at one of the president’s private clubs. The bottom of the pool was coated with a reflective aqua-blue paint intended to restore its appearance. However, large sections of the paint soon began to peel away, leaving floating fragments in a pool now heavily overrun by algae.

The deteriorating condition of the pool has drawn public attention, with some visitors reportedly collecting pieces of the peeling paint as keepsakes. Meanwhile, National Park Service personnel have been actively engaged in daily maintenance efforts, applying chemicals in an attempt to control the rapid growth of algae covering the water’s surface.

In a statement following these developments, President Trump called for strict penalties against those responsible for the mismanagement of the Reflecting Pool restoration project. He indicated that draining the pool might be necessary, pointing to this as a likely course of action to address the persistent problems, marking the second such draining considered within a two-month period.

The difficulties with the Reflecting Pool renovation add to the growing list of infrastructure and maintenance challenges under the current administration, raising questions about contract oversight and project execution at nationally significant sites. Officials have yet to confirm a timetable for further actions or provide detailed plans for completing the restoration.