National Park Service workers use vacuum pumps to clean algae off the bottom of the newly renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Saturday. A court filing alleges that vandals cut the pool's lining with a sharp knife. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo
June 26 (UPI) -- A court filing by a National Park Service official said that a liner on the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool was "cut with a sharp knife or razor."
The document was filed on Wednesday as part of a lawsuit to stop the renovation of the pool, brought by the Cultural Landscape Foundation, and continues President Donald Trump's claims that vandals damaged the reflecting pool.
The declaration signed by Deputy Director for the National Park Service Frank Lands, said: "On June 9, 2026, after the rehabilitation project was substantially complete, the U.S. Park Police responded to an NPS report of damage to the reflecting pool, including a caulk over the foam sealant that was cut with a sharp knife or razor and destruction of delaminating surface material. In addition, approximately 70 fence post tops were thrown into the pool."
A Department of the Interior spokesperson told ABC News that the alleged "vandalism was under investigation and believed to be isolated."
