A federal official confirmed under oath that the liner of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was deliberately sliced with a sharp knife or razor blade earlier this month, according to court documents filed Wednesday.
Frank Lands, the deputy director of operations at the National Park Service, made the disclosure in a sworn declaration submitted as part of a federal lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s renovation of the pool.
Lands stated the damage included “a caulk over the foam sealant that was cut with a sharp knife or razor and destruction of delaminating surface material.” He also confirmed that roughly 70 fence post tops had been thrown into the pool.
The NPS spent nearly $15 million renovating the Washington landmark in preparation for America’s 250th anniversary celebrations this Fourth of July. The renovation included repainting the surface and repairing longstanding leaks.
Six people were arrested earlier this week on charges of vandalizing the pool. One of the suspects is a former Olympic athlete. Authorities have not publicly identified the individuals charged.
U.S. Park Police released surveillance footage from a June 19 incident, asking the public to help identify a suspect captured on camera. The footage was posted to the agency’s official social media account alongside a request for tips in connection with a “Destruction of Government Property investigation.”
President Trump said the vandalism was carried out by “sick people.” He also indicated the pool will likely require draining to complete repairs.
Lands confirmed the planned drainage in his court filing, stating the NPS intends to begin that process after July 4.
The pool has been at the center of ongoing controversy since its renovation was completed. A large algal bloom and peeling paint surfaced within days of the reopening, drawing attention to the quality of the work and to subsequent damage that officials now say was deliberately inflicted.
The lawsuit in which Lands’ declaration was filed challenges the administration’s authority to proceed with certain aspects of the renovation project.
Lands did not formally attribute the cutting of the liner to any of the arrested individuals, nor did he categorize the damage as vandalism in his sworn statement.
