Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Drained Again, Second Time in Three Months

Crews began draining the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Sunday, marking the second time in three months the pool has been emptied. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the draining was planned all along, set to start right after the July Fourth fireworks show.

Burgum, speaking to a conservative podcaster, said this round of work will include clearing out fireworks debris and fixing vandalism damage. As of Tuesday evening, though, water was still sitting in the pool, and it's unclear whether crews plan to drain it further. In a separate interview over the weekend, Burgum said the pool might only need a partial draining this time.

The draining comes after weeks of problems at the pool, including algae blooms, water turning green, a chipping bottom, and reports of vandalism. Those issues turned the reflecting pool into something of a national fixation.

Trump administration officials, including President Trump himself, have said vandals damaged the pool by gashing its lining. So far, though, they haven't provided evidence to back up that claim.