NYT Report Says Trump Administration Bypassed Experts in Faulty Reflecting Pool Renovation
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A New York Times investigation found that the Trump administration ignored standard National Park Service procedures and awarded a no-bid contract to an inexperienced manager, leading to a defective pool liner that was removed weeks after installation.
The New York Times reported that the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool’s recent renovation problems stem from decisions made by the Trump administration rather than longstanding maintenance issues. In 2012 the pool underwent its first major repair in nearly a century, but leaks and algae persisted. Seeking a quick fix for a July 4 celebration, the administration sidestepped the usual National Park Service planning process and appointed David Schutzenhofer, a manager of the president’s Bedminster golf club with a hospitality background but no engineering credentials.
Schutzenhofer selected a blue polyurea liner after encountering it at a Las Vegas trade show, a material not previously considered by park officials. The choice was limited by tariffs on Chinese resin imports, according to the Times. The project proceeded under a no-bid contract despite career officials raising concerns about risk, cost, contractor profit margins, and historic preservation requirements.
Shortly after installation, the liner developed bubbles, holes and peeling sections, and algae returned. Prosecutors later cited these flaws in the indictment of consultant David Hearn, who had warned of structural failures. Despite the issues, President Trump claimed the liner could last "100 years."
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and the White House initially blamed "liberal" vandals, alleging the liner had been cut with a box knife and chemicals added to the water. Subsequent investigations found no evidence of sabotage. The defective liner was removed within weeks, costing taxpayers millions and forcing the historic landmark to close for emergency repairs.
"The administration ignored career officials and bypassed normal planning to install a defective liner," the Times investigation concluded.