Burgum Defends Rehiring $14.7 Million Pool Contractor as NPS Details 350-Foot Lincoln Memorial Damage
Updated
Updated · KOMO News · Jul 6
Burgum Defends Rehiring $14.7 Million Pool Contractor as NPS Details 350-Foot Lincoln Memorial Damage
3 articles · Updated · KOMO News · Jul 6
Summary
Doug Burgum said the government will again use Atlantic Industrial Coatings to repair the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, defending the same contractor that painted it "American flag blue."
A National Park Service court filing said the pool liner was cut with a sharp knife or razor after a $16 million rehabilitation, giving the first official detail behind damage Trump had called vandalism.
Atlantic received a $14.7 million no-bid contract to repaint and waterproof the concrete floor; a separate $1.7 million algae-response contract went to Green Water Solutions, a firm linked to a Trump donor.
Trump said the damage included a 350-foot gash and that six people were arrested; among them, former Olympian David Hearn was indicted on a felony property-destruction charge and denies wrongdoing.
The repair decision keeps scrutiny on the administration's contracting after viral images showed peeling blue paint and bright green water, prompting Democratic senators to examine Trump-linked vendors.