Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool will be fully repaired within the coming weeks [1].
The timeline comes as the administration faces public criticism after the pool was recently painted "American-flag blue" [4]. The project has sparked debate over the aesthetic choices and the expenditure of public funds at one of the capital's most iconic landmarks.
Speaking during an interview on ABC’s “This Week” on July 5, Burgum said the issues would be resolved quickly, saying, "All will be fixed in the coming weeks" [1].
When questioned about the financial impact of the project, Burgum said the spending was modest. He said the total cost would be a "small number" [2]. While an exact figure has not been disclosed, reports indicate the cost of the repairs involves millions of dollars [5].
Burgum also clarified the administration's approach to the labor and procurement process for the remainder of the project. He said the government will not be seeking new bids for the work and will instead use the same contractor to finish the job [3].
The decision to stick with the current contractor suggests a desire to avoid further delays in the restoration process. The pool remains a focal point of national attention as the administration works to finalize the repairs and return the site to its standard appearance.
“"All will be fixed in the coming weeks."”
The administration's decision to bypass new bidding processes and stick with the existing contractor indicates a priority on speed over cost-revaluation. By framing the multi-million dollar expense as a 'small number,' the Interior Department is attempting to minimize the political fallout from a highly visible and controversial aesthetic change to a national monument.
