Blue coating peels off Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool days after Trump-ordered $14.7 million renovation

Blue material is peeling off the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool just days after the iconic waterway was repainted and refilled as part of a multi-million dollar renovation ordered by President Donald Trump. CNN observed on Thursday a flap of blue material partially attached to the pool's bottom and floating upward, though it remains unclear whether the material is paint or sealant, or what caused the deterioration.

Atlantic Industrial Coatings, the Virginia-based contractor hired for the project, acknowledged the issue but stated that pictures and videos alone do not provide sufficient information for diagnosis. The company's owner, Eddie Wood, indicated that any problems would be addressed during maintenance visits. Tim Auerhahn, a pool infrastructure expert and chairman of the Aquatic Council, explained that coating failures can result from multiple factors including substrate preparation, surface contamination, application conditions, adhesion issues, product selection, mechanical damage, or environmental exposure. He cautioned that if the coating is losing adhesion in multiple locations, it could signal a systemic problem rather than a localized issue.

The peeling material represents the latest challenge for the Reflecting Pool since Trump ordered its renovation in April, with the project's cost escalating from an initial $1.8 million estimate to $14.7 million. Trump sought to repaint the pool's bottom in what he called "American flag blue" following the failure of President Barack Obama's 2012 renovation, which cost $34 million but did not permanently resolve recurring issues with algae blooms. The pool again began showing signs of algae discoloration shortly after being refilled earlier this month, prompting workers to deploy hydrogen peroxide treatments and "advanced nanobubbler technology" to remediate the problem, though large sections remained green as of Thursday.

The Reflecting Pool has struggled with algae, leaks, bird waste, and dead waterfowl for nearly a century, issues that have plagued multiple presidential administrations. The Department of the Interior did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the current peeling material or the broader state of the renovation. The pool renovation is one of several beautification projects ordered by Trump in Washington, DC, including proposals for a White House East Wing ballroom, an arch near Arlington National Cemetery, and a National Garden of American Heroes featuring 250 statues.