Contractor Admits Faulty Work Caused Reflecting Pool Damage, Not Vandals

Contractor admits shoddy work caused Reflecting Pool damage, not vandals. New report confirms Trump's claims were unfounded.

Editorial Desk

September 12, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Washington, D.C. — A contractor responsible for the recent renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has admitted that its own substandard work led to damage, not acts of vandalism as previously claimed by former President Donald Trump.

The contractor, Atlantic Industrial Coatings, stated in internal reports that errors during the project, including insufficient primer application and the use of incompatible chemicals, resulted in the pool’s liner peeling away shortly after completion. This contradicts Trump’s public assertions that vandals had deliberately damaged the structure.

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Trump had accused individuals of cutting a “350-foot slit” in the pool’s lining using a box-cutter or knife, but government documents obtained by The New York Times reveal that the damage was due to faulty installation. Prosecutors later dismissed charges against several individuals accused of vandalism, citing the lack of evidence and confirming that the damage stemmed from the contractor’s mistakes. The Reflecting Pool remains closed while repairs are underway.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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