Atlantic Industrial Coatings admits error in Reflecting Pool renovation

Atlantic Industrial Coatings, the contractor hired to renovate the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, has admitted that “human oversight” and technical flaws caused the pool's liner to peel and tear. According to government documents, the company failed to spray sufficient primer in certain areas and used two chemically incompatible products that caused the bottom layer to blister when exposed to heat.

These findings contradict repeated claims by President Donald Trump that the damage to the “American flag blue” liner was caused by vandals using knives or box cutters. While the Department of Justice had previously charged several individuals with vandalism, prosecutors began dismissing those cases after information indicated the damage resulted from a rushed installation intended to meet the country's 250th anniversary deadline.

The Interior Department has continued to attribute the issues to “major vandalism” in public statements, though the contractor is contractually obligated to perform repairs. The renovation project, valued at $14.7 million, has faced multiple delays and remains under repair.