National Park Service reports knife damage to Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool liner
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A National Park Service official said a sharp knife or razor cut the pool's liner and foam sealant, prompting an investigation and plans to drain the pool for repairs.
A National Park Service deputy director of operations said a sharp knife or razor cut the liner and foam sealant at the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool earlier this month, damaging the coating installed as part of a $16 million rehabilitation effort. The U.S. Park Police responded to a complaint on June 9, and the police report noted the cut, as well as the removal of about 70 fence post tops that were thrown into the water.
The Interior Department said the incident was initially treated as isolated while under investigation, but later observed additional vandalism, including fencing being ripped from the pool. The department reported seven arrests, seven federal citations and 18 police reports related to the damage, though it did not disclose the specific charges.
President Donald Trump has attributed the damage to unidentified vandals, claiming that “sick people” used razors and box cutters to slice the liner. He has pledged to complete the renovation before Independence Day and to release images supporting his claims.
Surveillance footage released by the Park Police shows a person kneeling in the pool and removing an object, and authorities have asked the public for assistance in identifying the individual. The park service plans to drain the pool after the July 4 celebrations to assess and repair the liner.
The renovation, which involved draining the 2,000-foot basin, installing a tinted plastic-like liner, and refilling the pool, has faced legal challenges and criticism from congressional Democrats who allege wasteful spending and have called for investigations into the project's contracts and execution.