Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool liner failure linked to installation errors

Atlantic Industrial Coatings, the contractor hired to renovate the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, has concluded that installation errors and material incompatibility caused the pool’s blue liner to fail. According to documents reviewed by The New York Times, the company found that workers failed to apply sufficient primer in certain sections and that two chemical products used in the liner system were incompatible. Heat from the upper layer caused the material underneath to blister and separate.

These findings contradict previous claims by President Donald Trump, who had blamed vandals for the damage. While federal prosecutors had initially charged several individuals in connection with the case, the Justice Department later dropped those charges after investigations indicated the failures were linked to the botched installation rather than criminal activity. Court filings suggest the project was rushed to meet deadlines for the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations.

The $14.7 million no-bid federal project remains under repair, with the pool currently drained. Atlantic Industrial Coatings has stated it will fix the work under warranty.