A group sued over President Trump’s Reflecting Pool project on Monday, arguing the renovation at the National Mall violates environmental and preservation laws.
The Cultural Landscape Foundation and its founder, Charles Birnbaum, said the blue paint coating is “altering the historic character” of the Reflecting Pool without authority.
“The dark grey, achromatic basin was not incidental to the design. It was the design,” the lawsuit states.
The suit was filed in federal district court in Washington, D. C. The group quickly asked for an emergency intervention that immediately stops the project.
“President Trump has done more to make our nation’s capital a shining beacon than any other president in the history of this country,” an Interior Department spokesperson said in a statement.
“The National Park Service chose the best company to expedite the repair of the iconic Reflecting Pool ahead of our 250 celebrations. The choice of American Flag Blue will enhance the visitor experience by making the pool reflect the grand Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument.”
Trump announced last month he would coat the Reflecting Pool in “American flag blue.” As the project got underway, Trump’s motorcade took an unannounced trip to see the project up close.
The pool runs from the Lincoln Memorial to the World War II Memorial, reflecting an image of the Washington Monument as it spans the length of 12 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
It has undergone several renovations since its dedication in 1922. Former President Obama’s administration requested $34 million in stimulus funding to renovate the site in 2012, and the National Park Service drains the pool for cleaning and upkeep projects on an intermittent basis.
The lawsuit asserts the National Historic Preservation Act required the government to conduct consultations before changing the historic property, and the project also is not meeting the government’s obligations under the National Environmental Policy Act.
Trump’s announcement is one of his latest efforts to beautify the nation’s capital and pursue new real estate projects.
Some of the president’s other projects, including the planned White House ballroom and renovations to the city’s golf courses, have also come under legal challenges.
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