National Park Service reports knife damage to Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool liner

A National Park Service deputy director of operations said a sharp knife or razor was used to cut the foam-sealant liner at the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on June 9, damaging the material and throwing about 70 fence-post tops into the water. The incident was reported to U.S. Park Police, which released surveillance footage and asked the public to help identify the individual involved.

The damage was documented in a police report that described "a caulk over the foam sealant that was cut with a sharp knife or razor and destruction of delaminating surface material." The agency plans to drain the pool after Independence Day celebrations to assess and repair the lining.

The finding comes as the Trump administration, which has pledged to complete the $16 million renovation before July 4, has previously attributed various problems at the pool to unidentified vandals. President Donald Trump has claimed that "sick people" used razors and box cutters to damage the liner, though no evidence has been presented.

The Cultural Landscape Foundation, which sued to halt the project, asked a federal judge to block further work, urging officials to consult experts and the public before proceeding.

"It is also not too late to correct course," the foundation wrote in a filing, calling for a more deliberate approach to the renovation.