Burgum says Reflecting Pool repairs will not be rebid
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum defended the contractor as Democrats scrutinize costs, damage claims and no-bid work at the landmark.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
3 min read
The Trump administration will keep the same contractor on repairs to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool rather than seek fresh bids, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said Sunday. The decision keeps scrutiny on a taxpayer-funded project that has drawn questions over damage, cost and earlier no-bid contracts tied to the National Mall landmark.
Burgum told CNN’s “State of the Union” that the company would remain on the job because, in his view, its work had been strong. He said the pool would need to be at least partly drained in the coming week so repairs could be completed.
According to The Associated Press, Burgum said he was certain vandalism caused the damage to the century-old pool. President Donald Trump has said a 350-foot cut was made in the pool’s liner during recent work; Burgum described the damage as several cuts that together reached that length.
Burgum said the damage could cost tens of thousands of dollars to fix and could amount to a felony if it meets the legal threshold for damage to government property. Asked whether photographic evidence showed vandals cutting the liner, Burgum did not give a direct answer, according to the AP.
Renovation drew attention before July Fourth
Trump had promised earlier this year to improve the Reflecting Pool before July Fourth celebrations marking the nation’s 250th birthday. As part of that work, the water was drained and Trump ordered the bottom painted a shade he called “American flag blue,” according to the AP.
After the pool was refilled, AP reported that algae affected the water for more than a week and that parts of the new coating appeared to be coming loose from the bottom. The pool was closed for the Independence Day celebration, though Burgum said the closure was tied to fireworks safety rather than the repair controversy.
The dispute has become part of a broader political fight over Trump’s effort to remake prominent Washington sites, including the White House, the AP reported.
Arrests and contract questions
Authorities have arrested more than a half dozen people in connection with Reflecting Pool damage, according to the AP. Among them is former Olympian David Hearn, who was indicted last week on a felony property-destruction charge.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, the top federal prosecutor in Washington, said Hearn intentionally pulled up recently installed sealant, causing more than $1,000 in damage. Pirro alleged that Hearn used both hands to pull up the liner and acted belligerently toward an employee who told him to stop.
Hearn’s attorneys, Norm Eisen and Mary Dohrmann, called the charges outrageous and said the case reflected a misuse of government power based on what they described as a false account. Burgum, asked whether Hearn should face the charge’s maximum 10-year sentence, said the courts would decide.
Democratic lawmakers are also examining contracts awarded for the Reflecting Pool project. According to documents cited by the AP, Ohio-based Green Water Solutions, also known as Greenwater Services, received a $1.7 million contract for a water-purification system, while Virginia-based Atlantic Industrial Coatings received $14.7 million to repaint and waterproof the concrete floor.
About 10 Democratic senators and House members are investigating the project, the AP reported. In a letter last month, six senators said taxpayers deserved a full explanation of what went wrong and who would be responsible for fixing it.
Burgum also appeared Sunday on ABC’s “This Week,” according to the AP.
This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.