The Trump administration is blaming 'box‑cutter vandals' for fresh damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., just weeks after hailing a multimillion‑dollar renovation as a 'big success,' and as officials prepare to drain the troubled landmark yet again.
The Reflecting Pool overhaul has been one of Donald Trump's most conspicuous vanity projects on the National Mall, pitched as a bold fix for chronic leaks and algae that have dogged the monument for decades. Trump initially told supporters and the press the work would cost about $1.8 million, but federal contracting records now show at least $14.7 million committed to a single repair contract, with total costs projected to exceed $15 million as additional work is added.
