Interior Secretary Doug Burgum discussed the government’s plans to address damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on CNN’s “State of the Union.” The same company, Atlantic Industrial Coatings, which initially painted the pool base “American flag blue,” will handle the repairs. Burgum affirmed the company’s performance was commendable, despite allegations that paint patches have loosened due to vandalism.
The administration has been under scrutiny over the awarding of a $13.1 million no-bid contract to Atlantic Industrial Coatings, a firm also known for working on properties related to Trump. Trump initially projected a cost range of $1.5 to $2 million. Atlantic Industrial Coatings’ owner, Eddie Wood, stated the project’s valuation grew to $14.6 million due to additional requirements from the National Park Service.
The pool’s blue paint has started peeling off, and algae have turned the water bright green. To tackle the algae issue, the government awarded a $1.7 million contract to Green Water Solutions, a company tied to a Trump donor.
President Trump claimed, without evidence, that vandalism caused the paint to peel. Following Trump’s assertion, multiple arrests and citations occurred. U.S. Olympic canoeist David Hearn faced an indictment for property damage over $1,000 at the pool site. Hearn denied any wrongdoing, arguing his arrest stemmed from merely inspecting a pre-detached coating piece out of curiosity.
Burgum commented on the legal actions against Hearn, stating the courts should determine liability. He stressed that past roles, such as former governor, do not exempt individuals from legal compliance.