Merkley Launches Investigation into Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Surrounding Renovation of the Reflecting Pool

Merkley Launches Investigation into Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Surrounding Renovation of the Reflecting Pool June 25, 2026 Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee and Ranking Member of the Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee—launched an investigation into the Trump Administration’s renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool ahead of America’s 250th anniversary, which has so far reportedly cost American taxpayers more than $16 million . Within weeks of the renovation’s completion, the Reflecting Pool suffered its worst algae bloom in years , and then the pool’s new coating began peeling . Now, Merkley is demanding answers from the U.S. Department of the Interior and contractors—Atlantic Industrial Coatings, LLC and Greenwater Services—about the waste of taxpayers’ dollars. “After railing about waste, fraud, and abuse, Donald Trump spent more than $16 million on a renovation of the Reflecting Pool that’s now peeling and chock full of algae,” said Merkley. “This is a massive waste of working families’ hard-earned tax dollars. I’m launching an investigation because taxpayers deserve swift answers—and a refund.” Full text of the letter and the list of questions Merkley sent can be found by clicking here . ###