Contractor Blames Repair Plan for Reflecting Pool Damage, Not Vandals

New government documents show the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool's blue liner failure stemmed from Atlantic Industrial Coatings' errors and a flawed repair plan, not vandalism. The contractor cited human oversight and an incompatible two-chemical layering in the renovation, conducted under a rushed, no-bid contract during the Trump administration. The pool remains drained as repairs continue, with the government paying about $14.7 million for the work.