WorldCrews are again draining the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool as President Donald Trump’s problem-plagued effort to revamp the waterway pushes well past his initial goal of having it ready by July 4 to mark the nation’s 250th birthday.Revamp has run into problems, from algae to peeling paintThe Associated Press · Posted: Jul 10, 2026 9:23 PM EDT | Last Updated: 12 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 4 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.National Park Service workers stand near a pump placed next to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Friday. (Mark Schiefelbein/The Associated Press)Crews are again draining the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool as U.S. President Donald Trump's problem-plagued effort to revamp the waterway pushes well past his initial goal of having it ready by July 4 to mark the nation's 250th birthday.The president at first suggested his renovations would last a century. But, within weeks of the project originally reaching completion last month, the water was beset by an algae bloom and pieces of the new coating appeared to be peeling off the bottom.Trump has blamed the peeling on vandals, though critics allege it's from shoddy repair work.Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, whose agency oversees the National Park Service, told conservative podcaster Katie Miller in an interview released earlier this week that the new round of draining was planned. He also said that the water might still contain debris from an extensive Independence Day fireworks display over the National Mall."Drain the water, clean up the fireworks stuff," Burgum told Miller, who is the wife of deputy White House chief of staff Stephen Miller. "Repair the vandalism that was done. Fill it back up again."WATCH | Problems at the pool:The reflecting pool saga | About ThatJune 23|Duration 2:56U.S. President Donald Trump's attempt to repair and repaint the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., is not going as planned. Andrew Chang breaks down the race to fix a slew of problems by Independence Day, from large swaths of peeling paint to swampy algae blooms.