Interior Secretary Doug Burgum engaged in a discussion with CNN’s Dana Bash regarding the damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C. Burgum insisted that vandalism was responsible for the damage. He stated officials could prove that vandals cut the newly installed liner after Bash questioned whether the Trump administration’s renovation efforts had failed before the Fourth of July celebration.
Bash inquired if Burgum was certain that vandalism caused the damage and if proof was available. Burgum responded, “Absolutely you can,” emphasizing photographs would support his claim as the pool was drained.
Burgum explained, “As we drain it, we’ve got all the photographs we can see.”
Bash further pressed Burgum about having photographic evidence of individuals cutting the liner. Burgum responded, questioning why media outlets continued to doubt the cause. He stated that the material used in the pool was an industrial liner, likened to those sprayed onto truck beds, making it highly durable and unlikely to peel off on its own.
He emphasized that the difference in damage patterns indicated deliberate cuts. “The only way you can end up with actual slices in one spot and not the other is that someone physically cut it,” said Burgum.
Burgum mentioned previous issues with the pool leaking significant amounts of water, which had since been resolved. “The pool itself, it’s not leaking,” he asserted, mentioning previous leaks of 45,000 gallons daily, which had been fixed.
Regarding the pool’s closure during the July Fourth celebrations, Burgum noted it was a routine measure due to the proximity of fireworks setups. “It’s closed every year on the Fourth of July,” he stated.
Bash inquired if President Trump’s motorcade, during an earlier visit, could have caused damage. Burgum confidently replied, “No,” citing the vehicle used was a Cadillac Escalade and not the heavier “Beast.”
He concluded that the same company responsible for the initial work would handle repairs, as they had done an excellent job initially. Burgum noted that while vandalism was small, repairs could still be costly.
He said, “Thankfully, the vandalism was small. It was bad. I mean it could cost tens of thousands of dollars to repair.”
According to the Associated Press, the pool will need to be partially drained for repairs, which will not open to new contractors. The report mentions contracts received by Green Water Solutions and Atlantic Industrial Coatings for related work.