On Tuesday, President Donald Trump shared exciting news regarding the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, a significant landmark located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated, “Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and I are working on fixing the absolutely filthy Reflecting Pool between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument.” He emphasized that while this should have been addressed by the Biden Administration, they fell short on maintenance and cleanliness, which he and Secretary Burgum intend to rectify.
Currently, the Department of the Interior and National Park Service have not provided specific details about the proposed upgrades. However, officials have expressed dedication to the project and are assessing potential bids without releasing any information about the scope, timeline, or budget.
Improvements could include cleaning enhancements, water quality upgrades, structural repairs, or revisions to filtration systems, adhering to practices for historic water features. The National Park Service follows a seasonal routine to drain, clean, and refill the pool, utilizing scrubbers for algae and sediment management.
Any renovations will need to comply with preservation standards for the National Mall, a site of historical significance.
🚨 JUST IN: President Trump confirms he and Interior Sec. Doug Burgum are FIXING the “filthy” Reflecting Pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument
“This work was supposed to be done by the Biden Administration, but Sleepy Joe doesn’t know what “CLEAN” or… pic.twitter.com/NgxmQPLAY4
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 31, 2026
Previously, Trump had announced plans for the reflecting pool renovation in a Truth Social post last November. He had signed an executive order aimed at cleaning up federal lands in Washington, which included removing homeless encampments and graffiti.
During their deployment in the capital, National Guard personnel have also been assigned to assist with cleanup efforts.
The last major renovation of the reflecting pool took place from November 2010 to August 2012, addressing various structural issues. This project was partly financed through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, costing approximately $30.7 million and restoring public access by August 2012.
