Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool repairs ended up botched, documents show
National Park Service employees received a directive from Washington moving maintenance projects approved for the year onto a new “low priority” list, with work the White House wanted done — including repairs to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool tied to President Donald Trump’s Freedom 250 initiative — placed on a separate priority list, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.
Three officials from the park service and Interior Department, not authorized to comment publicly, spoke on condition of anonymity about the directive. The documents describe a two-tier structure: approved maintenance at sites across the nation on the lower list, and White House-designated projects on the higher list.
The 250th anniversary of U.S. independence was approaching when the directive was issued. The anniversary-related work, including the reflecting pool repair, was elevated above previously approved maintenance that had been cleared for the year.
The reflecting pool repairs and other projects tied to Freedom 250 landed on the White House priority list, the documents show. Many of the administration-backed projects have advanced, though the reflecting pool repairs were botched.
The three officials corroborated the documents’ contents. They confirmed that previously approved maintenance for the year was set aside in favor of projects the White House prioritized.