President Donald Trump announced that the National Mall’s Reflecting Pool will likely need to be drained, citing what he described as vandalism and severe damage.
The pool’s water now contains clouds of algae following a rushed renovation project designed to restore the iconic Washington landmark.
A three-time Olympian has been charged with destroying government property in connection with the pool’s deterioration.
The athlete claims he only touched one of the strands of blue paint peeling off the pool’s bottom, an action he says led to the legal charge.
Trump’s statement pointed to the incident as evidence of broader neglect and mismanagement at the site.
The renovation was intended to refresh the pool, but officials now acknowledge the work was completed hastily.
Experts note that the algae blooms are likely the result of improper chemical balancing or filtration issues during the renovation.
Draining the pool would require careful planning to avoid further damage to its historic structure.
The charge against the Olympian has drawn attention to the pool’s fragile condition and the limitations of recent maintenance efforts.
No timeline has been provided for when the draining might occur or how long repairs would take.
