The cost of President Trump’s repairs to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool have swelled by $11.3 million months after he first announced the project, which is intended to coincide with celebrations for the country’s 250th founding anniversary.
Originally, the president pegged $1.8 million for efforts to repaint the reflecting pool, waterproof its bottom and mend leaking joints.
However, Friday filings show the cost is projected to hit $13.1 million, according to a report from the New York Times.
Last week, the Interior Department added $6.2 million to the existing contract, valued at $6.9 million.
The repairs are being headed by a Virginia firm, Atlantic Industrial Coatings, which was awarded a no-bid contract in April.
The company previously repaired swimming pools at the Trump National Golf Club Washington DC, which is located in Sterling, Va. It was selected to service the historic reflecting pool after the government cited an urgent need to move ahead with the project. The government said a delay would cause “serious injury,” per the Times.
No further explanation regarding any harm or damage was given, however, the intended timeline for completion was listed as July 4.
“The contract price reflects the effort necessary to expedite the timeline of completing the leak prevention coating project—more people, more materials, more equipment and longer hours ahead of our 250th,” an Interior Department spokesperson told The Hill.
The spokesperson added that the National Park Service is also investing in an ozone nanobubbler filtration system and will now have a dedicated crew who will maintain the grounds.
But historic preservationists and a local non-profit have taken issue with Trump’s efforts to renovate the staple of the National Mall.
The Cultural Landscape Foundation and its founder, Charles Birnbaum, filed a lawsuit last week alleging the blue paint coating being added to the reflecting pool is “altering the historic character” without authority.
The lawsuit asserts the National Historic Preservation Act required the government to conduct consultations before changing the historic property, and the project is not meeting the government’s obligations under the National Environmental Policy Act.
The Trump administration has argued the project will improve the pool for tourists, patrons and families visiting the National Mall while cutting down on costs for taxpayers who help cover the pool maintenance, which currently leaks 16 million gallons of water per year.
“You’re going to end up with a beautiful, beautiful Reflecting Pool, the way it’s supposed to be,” Trump said during remarks in the Oval last month.
“Much better than it ever was, actually,” he continued.
The reflecting pool has undergone several renovations since its dedication in 1922.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.