INV-061 · Money & ethics · Contracts
No-bid Reflecting Pool contracts and cost growth
Stage 2 of 5: Inquiry · Letters and records requests · Last development 21 Oct 2026
In April 2026 the Interior Department gave two no-bid contracts, citing urgency, to Atlantic Industrial Coatings and Greenwater Services to reseal and recoat the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The first estimate was $1.5-2 million; reported costs reached $13.1 million in May and more than $16 million by August. Trump first said he had sent contractors who had "worked for me in the past", then that he did not know the contractor. The coating failed, and vandalism charges against a visitor were dropped after prosecutors said Interior had not shared its own records of a flawed installation.
Congressional Democrats have asked questions and requested an Interior inspector general review; no inspector general review has been announced, and no official body has found wrongdoing in how the contracts were awarded. The White House says Trump has no personal relationship with the contractor.
- People
- Donald Trump, Doug Burgum, Atlantic Industrial Coatings, Greenwater Services
- Agencies
- Interior Dept, Interior Dept (Park Service)
- Reviewed by
- Sen. Blumenthal (PSI), House Oversight (minority), Interior Inspector General (requested)
Money involved
- $2 million Initial estimate for the no-bid Reflecting Pool work ($1.5M to $2M) (Taxpayer money in questioned contracts, loans and funds, estimate) [1]
- $13.1 million Contract cost by May 2026 (Blumenthal letter) (Taxpayer money in questioned contracts, loans and funds) [4]
- $16 million Contract cost, "more than $16 million" (Heinrich and Whitehouse letter, Aug 2026) (Taxpayer money in questioned contracts, loans and funds) [1]
Timeline
Hearn's lawyers say the Justice Department inspector general declined their request for an investigation, saying it falls to the Office of Professional Responsibility; no response from the Interior inspector general has been reported. [6]
Sens. Heinrich and Whitehouse ask the Interior Inspector General to investigate what Interior staff knew about the failures and whether evidence was withheld from prosecutors; they put the cost at more than $16 million. [1]
The U.S. Attorney's Office for D.C. moves to dismiss the charges. Its filing says Interior's documents "indicated a rushed and flawed installation process" and that it would not have sought an indictment had Interior shared them. [1]
Rep. Robert Garcia, top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, writes to both contractors asking how they received no-bid contracts. [5]
Three-time Olympian David Hearn is arrested and charged with felony vandalism after touching peeling paint. [1]
The administration announces the recoating is complete. On 11 June a National Park Service engineer emails colleagues about peeling. [1]
Sen. Blumenthal, ranking member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, writes to Atlantic Industrial Coatings: the cost has risen from the $1.8 million Trump cited to $13.1 million, the firm's proposal reportedly matched the contract to the dollar with a 20% profit margin, and it reportedly never held a federal contract. He asks 10 questions by 28 May, including about any work on Trump Organization properties. [4]
Trump on Truth Social: "I didn't give out the contract, 'Interior' did, to a contractor I did not know", adding he had never used it before. [3]
Trump: "I'm going to call all three of these people that have worked for me in the past, doing swimming pools." [2]
The Interior Department awards no-bid contracts on 3 and 13 April to Atlantic Industrial Coatings and Greenwater Services to seal the seams and recoat the Reflecting Pool, estimated at $1.5-2 million. Per PolitiFact, Interior invoked an exemption for urgent situations, ahead of the 4 July 250th-anniversary events. [1]
Responses
- White House official: "While the President does not have a personal relationship with this contractor, as a private citizen and builder, he was familiar with the company's previous work." [3]
- Interior Department: Said the company was the only one with the expertise, staff and materials to finish on time (as summarised by PolitiFact). [2]
- Interior Secretary Doug Burgum: On 1 August: "The evidence is clear, vandals have repeatedly caused damage to the Reflecting Pool." [1]
Who is acting on it
- Letter Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT): Asked Atlantic Industrial Coatings how it won a no-bid contract whose cost rose from $1.8M to $13.1M (14 May 2026, No reply or result recorded yet)
- Letter Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA): Asked both contractors how they received no-bid contracts (24 Jun 2026, No reply or result recorded yet)
- Asked for an investigation Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI): Asked the Interior inspector general to investigate what staff knew about the failures and whether evidence was withheld from prosecutors (5 Aug 2026, No reply or result recorded yet)
Sources
Cite this case
Public Trust Tracker. "No-bid Reflecting Pool contracts and cost growth" (INV-061). Last updated 21 Oct 2026. https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-061-no-bid-reflecting-pool-contracts-and-cost-growth/
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