Washington DC Reflecting Pool renovation fails, algae bloom and peeling paint

The Trump administration spent about $14 million to repaint the Reflecting Pool at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. in a blue shade dubbed “American Flag Blue.” Within days of reopening, the water turned bright green as algae proliferated, and large sections of the paint coating began to flake and break off, leaving visible patches of the original surface. Officials attempted to treat the problem with hydrogen peroxide, but the algae bloom and paint deterioration persisted, prompting further criticism.

Commentators have highlighted the project as a symbolic mishap, using the algae‑infested, peeling pool as a metaphor for the broader perceived failures of the Trump administration’s initiatives.