Former President Donald Trump announced he inspected the Reflecting Pool from a helicopter on Sunday and will begin work immediately. The landmark, freshly painted blue after a multi‑million dollar renovation, is still plagued by green algae and visible vandalism damage. Trump referred to the vandalism as “seriously vandalized” and called the dampening of the pool a major concern ahead of the 250th Independence Day. The U.S. Attorney for Washington, Jeanine Pirro, vowed to prosecute any damage to the pool, and police have cited or arrested about twenty individuals for alleged vandalism. The U.S. Park Police has not confirmed the figures reported by the administration.
The pool, built in the 1920s and stretching 619 m between the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument, has a long history of leaks, structural deterioration and bird droppings. Despite the re‑painting, paint pieces have been seen peeling from the bottom and the algae, identified by a George Mason University scientist as Desmodesmus, is harmless to humans and wildlife. The algae bloom has prompted use of chemicals like hydrogen peroxide to clear the water.
A captured duckling floated in the pool over the weekend, raising concerns about the impact of cleaning work on wildlife, though the exact cause remains unknown. Local officials and activists have expressed surprise at the scale of the vandalism and urged stronger protections for the monument. The repairs are expected to bring the reflecting pool back into compliance with federal standards and restore its appearance during the upcoming celebrations.
