Trump officials admit Reflecting Pool work 'botched' and drop case against Olympian
The US Department of Justice has admitted that a Trump-era renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was poorly executed and is dropping a case against an Olympian accused of damaging the site. The project faced criticism for its hasty implementation and subsequent algal blooms.
Why it matters
The admission highlights administrative failures in high-profile government infrastructure projects and the legal consequences of those actions.
The "botched" renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was a pain point for the Trump administration in June. ( Reuters: Aaron Schwartz )
Link copied Share Share article The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has admitted that President Donald Trump's $US14 million ($20 million) renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was "hasty and botched".
It comes as government lawyers move to dismiss a criminal case charging a former Olympian with deliberately damaging the monument.
Mr Trump ordered a multi-million-dollar renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool earlier this year, which aimed to fix leaks and turn the pool a colour he called "American flag blue".
Contracts were awarded to two hand-picked businesses, including a swimming pool contractor, according to The New York Times .
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