Trump's $14.7m Pool Cover-up Scandal Under Fire After Contractor Admits Its Own Repairs Caused the Damage

Donald Trump's controversial $14.7 million (£10.9 million) makeover of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has taken another embarrassing turn after the contractor hired to repair it admitted that mistakes in its own work caused the blue liner to peel and tear, rather than the widespread vandalism repeatedly blamed by the administration.

Documents show Atlantic Industrial Coatings identified both poor workmanship and a flawed repair plan, putting renewed attention on how an expensive government project ended with an empty pool, criminal accusations and a battle over who was responsible.

Contractor Admits Its Own Work Caused the Pool Damage

Atlantic Industrial Coatings acknowledged its role in reports submitted to the government on 14 August and 2 September. According to the documents, workers failed to apply enough primer in some areas, weakening the bond between layers of the new liner.

The company said two chemicals used in the liner were incompatible. The upper chemical became hotter than the material underneath could withstand, causing the lower layer to blister and eventually come loose. Atlantic described the failure as the result of human oversight and an unusual combination of products.

The findings directly challenge the repeated claim that vandals were primarily responsible for the peeling blue surface.

The contractor is now carrying out further repairs under warranty, with plans for a smaller and more closely supervised team. It also intends to consult an adviser from the manufacturer of the compounds used in the liner.

The $14.7m Price Tag Has Made the Failure Harder To Ignore

The controversy is particularly striking because Atlantic's contract was worth roughly $14.7 million (£10.9 million), according to federal records. The award was increased from an earlier value of about $13.1 million (£9.7 million), with the final obligation reaching approximately $14.7 million.

The project was also pushed through on a tight schedule ahead of celebrations marking America's 250th anniversary.

The rush has become an important part of the story. Earlier court filings from federal prosecutors acknowledged that the damage was linked to flawed installation and the pressure to complete the project before the 4 July celebrations.

The pool's problems became impossible to miss after the newly applied coating began peeling. Algae also became a highly visible issue, while sections of the liner reportedly lifted away from the surface.

For a project that had been promoted as a major improvement to one of Washington's most recognisable landmarks, the result has been anything but straightforward.

Vandalism Claims Led To Charges Against David Hearn

Before the contractor's admissions became public, the damage had already triggered a criminal investigation.

Former Olympic canoeist David Hearn was charged with felony vandalism after prosecutors accused him of pulling up part of the pool's liner. Federal prosecutors later moved to dismiss the case after reviewing evidence showing extensive damage throughout the drained pool.

The Justice Department acknowledged that the damage was actually connected to the contractor's flawed installation and the rushed schedule.

The company did not connect those cuts to the widespread peeling of the blue liner on the pool floor, which had been at the centre of the vandalism allegations.