parks
Trump's administration won't seek new bids to repair the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
By Steve Peoples, Associated Press at KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate)
· July 5, 2026
· 3 min read
The Trump administration will not seek new bids to repair the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said Sunday as he faced new questions about the troubled project and the taxpayer money involved.Like President Donald Trump, Burgum said he was 100% sure that vandals ca...
Key takeaway Like President Donald Trump, Burgum said he was 100% sure that vandals caused the damage to the century-old Reflecting Pool on the National Mall.
Why this matters in The San Antonio
The decision to not seek new bids for the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool repairs may have implications for San Antonio 's own public projects. As the city moves forward with its own renovations and restorations, the choice to stick with the same contractor despite vandalism and initial issues with the Reflecting Pool's coating raises questions about accountability and cost efficiency. San Antonio's city government and residents may want to pay close attention to how this project unfolds, as it could inform their own approaches to managing large-scale renovations and mitigating the risk of vandalism or damage. Furthermore, the controversy surrounding the Reflecting Pool's repairs and the aggressive overhaul of Washington landmarks may spark discussions about the role of government in preserving and maintaining public spaces, a topic that is certainly relevant to San Antonio's own rich cultural heritage and historic sites.
About this story
Original reporting by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) . The San Antonio surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: parks ·
Published: July 5, 2026 ·
Source: KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) ·
Reading time: 3 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? The Trump administration will not seek new bids to repair the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said Sunday as he faced new questions about the troubled project and the taxpayer money involved.Like President Donald Trump, Burgum said he was 100% sure that vandals ca...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 5, 2026 by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) and curated for The San Antonio readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Steve Peoples, Associated Press at KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate). To learn more about how The San Antonio selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more parks coverage from The San Antonio, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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