National Park Service: Sharp knife or razor used to cut Reflecting Pool liner

A section of the liner that runs at the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was cut with a sharp knife or razor earlier this month, according to an official at the National Park Service (NPS).

According to a sworn declaration filed Wednesday, the U.S. Park Police responded to a report from the NPS about damage to the foam sealant. The court document was part of a broader lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s efforts to renovate the pool.

Frank Lands, the deputy director of operations at the NPS, said the damage to the pool included “a caulk over the foam sealant that was cut with a sharp knife or razor and destruction of delaminating surface material.” He also added that about 70 fence post tops were thrown into the pool.

Lands did not identify a suspect or explicitly characterize the damage as vandalism, which President Trump has pointed to as the cause of several issues found with the pool shortly after its multimillion-dollar renovation was completed earlier this month.

The president said “sick people” had used sharp objects to slice the liner. Hours later, the Park Police posted surveillance footage of the June 19 incident, asking the public for help “identifying the individual depicted here in connection with a Destruction of Government Property investigation.”

The administration spent almost $15 million to revamp the Washington landmark ahead of America’s 250th birthday, repainting its surface and repairing leaks. But a massive algal bloom and peeling paint have become a pain point for restoration efforts, and Trump signaled that the pool will likely need to be drained for repairs.

Lands confirmed the drainage in the statement to the court, stating the agency plans to begin after July 4.

Earlier this week, six people were arrested and accused of vandalizing the pool, including a former Olympic athlete.

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