After a helicopter tour from Camp David, former President Donald Trump announced that work would begin immediately on the Reflecting Pool, a historic water feature that sits between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument.
The pool was recently refreshed with a new blue paint job, yet algae have returned, turning the water a bright green and causing paint to peel. Trump said he "inspected" the site from above and expressed disbelief at the vandalism that he says has marred the historic landmark.
At least five people were arrested and five others cited for vandalism in the recent days, according to a senior Trump administration official. US Attorney Jeanine Pirro pledged aggressive prosecution, saying victims of vandalism would face the criminal justice system.
Officials have used chemicals—including hydrogen peroxide—to wash the algae, but a dead duckling was found floating in the pool over the weekend, raising concerns about potential wildlife impacts and the safety of the water. A professor of aquatic ecology confirmed that the algae species found, Desmodesmus, is harmless to humans, though she cautioned that algae could change if other species were introduced by birds.
With the 250th anniversary of the United States’ independence approaching, the federal government is racing to restore the Reflecting Pool to its former glory and to protect it from further damage while ensuring it remains safe for visitors and wildlife alike.
