NPS Alleges Razor Cut Lincoln Memorial Pool Liner in $16 Million Renovation Dispute
Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · Jun 25
NPS Alleges Razor Cut Lincoln Memorial Pool Liner in $16 Million Renovation Dispute
3 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Jun 25
Summary
A sworn June 24 court filing by NPS Deputy Director Frank Lands says the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool’s new liner was deliberately cut with a sharp knife or razor.
The declaration, tied to a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s renovation, does not explain how officials concluded the damage was caused by a blade; park officials did not answer questions.
NPS reported the vandalism to U.S. Park Police on June 9, and police later released surveillance footage seeking help identifying a person in the destruction-of-government-property investigation.
The liner damage deepens scrutiny of the multi-million-dollar overhaul announced in April, which bypassed normal competitive bidding and quickly ran into a lime-green algae bloom and peeling surface sheets.