UMVA has learned that a fierce battle is raging over the restoration of the iconic reflecting pool that stretches between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.
President Trump unleashed a fiery post on Truth Social, denouncing a major newspaper for its relentless criticism of the $13.1 million renovation aimed at finally sealing the decades‑old, algae‑choked basin.
The pool, built in the 1920s, has long been a leaky nightmare, with water seeping into the swampy ground below and sinking sections threatening its very structure.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum countered the media’s attacks, emphasizing that the project’s core is the installation of crack‑proof expansion joints designed to endure seasonal temperature shifts.
Burgum highlighted that a previous administration’s 2012 effort cost $34 million, took nearly two years, and still left the pool draining an astonishing 16 million gallons a year.
In contrast, the current work began in April and is slated to finish by July 4, a timeline that Burgum says showcases efficiency and fiscal restraint.
Trump praised the “wonderful, talented, and proud construction professionals” who are reviving the world’s longest reflecting pool, noting that the scope now includes resurfaced walkways, upgraded drainage, and a fully modernized water system.
He warned that the once‑filthy basin, described as a “garbage‑strewn dump,” was leaking 45,000 gallons daily, a problem that will soon be eradicated at a fraction of the cost squandered by prior efforts.
Secretary Burgum shared that the new expansion joints, tested rigorously by the Army Corps of Engineers, withstood a full inch of movement during recent temperature swings without cracking, confirming the durability of the urethane‑impregnated foam and polyurea seal system.
He asserted that these materials will handle the pool’s inevitable expansion and contraction, something earlier projects failed to achieve.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the administration views the completed pool as a centerpiece for the nation’s upcoming 250th‑anniversary celebrations, positioning Washington, D.C., as a safe and spectacular capital.
Critics continue to question the project, but Trump and Burgum maintain that the restoration not only restores national pride but also sets a model for infrastructure revitalization across the country.
