National Park Service: Reflecting Pool Cut with Sharp Knife or Razor

A senior National Park Service (NPS) official has alleged in a court filing that the liner of the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool was "cut with a sharp knife or razor" earlier this month, echoing President Donald Trump's claims of vandalism.

Frank Lands, NPS deputy director for operations, made the statement in a Wednesday filing as part of a lawsuit brought by a nonprofit group seeking to halt the president's renovation of the site. According to the document, on June 9, after the renovation project was "substantially complete," US Park Police responded to a report of damage to the pool.

The damage includes "a caulk over the foam sealant that was cut with a sharp knife or razor and destruction of delaminating surface material," Lands wrote. Additionally, "approximately 70 fence post tops" were reportedly thrown into the water. NPS plans to drain the pool after Independence Day to conduct repairs and assess any damage to the lining.

The allegations come amid controversy over Trump's $14.2 million renovation project, which he pitched as turning the pool "American flag blue" ahead of the nation's 250th birthday celebrations. Days after completion, an algae bloom turned the water green, and NPS workers were seen using skimmers and adding hydrogen peroxide. Large flakes of the blue coating later began peeling off and floating on the surface.

Over the weekend, Trump blamed unidentified vandals. On Sunday, he claimed "multiple individuals" had been arrested by US Park Police for vandalizing the pool, but provided no details. On Friday, three-time US Olympic canoeist David Hearn was arrested. Hearn denied the vandalism claims, telling the Washington Post that he noticed a partly detached piece of the blue liner and reached into the water to feel it, only to be arrested for destruction of government property.

Since then, Trump and the Department of the Interior have faced growing pressure to release photographic and video evidence supporting their claims of sabotage. The administration has yet to release any photos or videos substantiating Trump's allegation of a 350-foot "gash" at the site. On Tuesday, the New York Times reported that government documents showed NPS workers found two cuts in sections of foam between expansion joints, but the cuts were not directly related to the peeling coating or the algae bloom. The cause of the cuts remains unclear.

On Wednesday, US Park Police asked for help identifying an individual in connection with a destruction of government property investigation, releasing a video showing a person reaching into the pool and appearing to pull something out. The alleged incident occurred on June 19.