Trump's Washington DC makeover sparks oversight and criticism

President Donald Trump has undertaken an extensive redesign of Washington, D.C., deploying an indefinite National Guard presence of up to 5,000 troops, placing his image on federal buildings, and repurposing the former USAID headquarters after cutting the agency’s funding by about 90% ($60 billion).

The administration also renovated the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool at a cost of more than $16 million. The project has been plagued by algae growth, paint peeling and water‑quality concerns. House Oversight Committee Democratic leader Rep. Robert Garcia (D‑CA) has sent letters to the contractors demanding contract details, performance standards and water‑quality records, calling the renovation a "disastrous vanity project" and seeking answers by July 8, 2026. Trump has said the pool will be drained again for permanent repair and mentioned six arrests for alleged vandalism, though no charges have been filed.