Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool now green [View all]

Published Jun 15, 2026 at 09:35 AM EDT
updated Jun 15, 2026 at 11:35 AM EDT

... While Trump had suggested the project would cost between $1.5 million and $2 million, federal records show contracts ultimately reached roughly $14 million. The work was awarded via a no-bid contract that has come under scrutiny and prompted a lawsuit from preservation group The Cultural Landscape Foundation, which argues the changes were carried out without required historic review ...

The timing—just days after the pool was refilled—has prompted debate over whether the darker coating could be playing a role ...

Weather conditions may also be contributing. Warm temperatures, strong sunlight and relatively still conditions are well known to encourage algae growth, particularly in shallow, slow-moving bodies of water like the reflecting pool ...

Some reports have also pointed to longer-standing infrastructure challenges beneath the pool, including issues with circulation or aging pipe systems ...

https://www.newsweek.com/lincoln-memorial-reflecting-pool-green-4-possible-reasons-12072855