Topline<\/p>\n
The Trump administration completed its $14.2 million renovations to the National Mall\u2019s Reflecting Pool last week, intending to color the water feature \u201cAmerican Flag Blue,\u201d but days later the pool\u2019s notorious algae returned to color the reservoir bright green.<\/p>\n
The Department of the Interior said the algae bloom turning the pool green was being \u201cvacuumed up as we speak.\u201d<\/p>\n
AFP via Getty ImagesKey Facts<\/p>\n
Photos and videos appeared to show National Park Service workers in waders cleaning up the algae with hand tools on Sunday, although the pool still appeared green in photos the next day.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe National Park Service is actually maintaining the beautifully completed Reflecting Pool,\u201d Katie Martin, a spokesperson for the Department of the Interior, told Forbes in a statement, blaming past presidential administrations for failing to adequately clean up the algae bloom.<\/p>\n
Martin said the Trump administration installed \u201cnanobubblers\u201d that \u201csuccessfully destroyed the algae bloom that has plagued every pool reopening since 1922.\u201d<\/p>\n
Martin said the algae was \u201cdead and being vacuumed up as we speak,\u201d and thanked President Donald Trump for \u201ccleaning up the reflecting pool for good.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Department of the Interior previously told CNN<\/a> last week the algae still visible was \u201cresidual\u201d from supply lines that were dormant during the renovation process, and its return was \u201cpart of the normal startup process.\u201d<\/p>\n National Park Service employees work to clean up algae in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on June 14.<\/p>\n Getty Images<\/p>\n Visitors walk by the Reflecting Pool on Sunday.<\/p>\n Getty Images<\/p>\n Clumps of green algae floats appear in the Reflecting Pool on Sunday.<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n National Park Service workers clean the algae in the Reflecting Pool on Sunday.<\/p>\n AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n Algae can be seen in the Reflecting Pool near the Lincoln Memorial on Sunday.<\/p>\n Getty ImagesKey Background<\/p>\n Throughout his second term in office, Trump has been heavily involved in projects to change the aesthetics of the U.S. capital, including tearing down<\/a> the White House\u2019s East Wing to make room for a ballroom and proposing a massive triumphal arch<\/a> near Arlington Cemetery. In April, the Reflecting Pool was drained so it could be repainted \u201cAmerican Flag Blue,\u201d Trump told reporters<\/a>. Public records<\/a> show the Trump administration spent $14.2 million on the renovations, which were awarded in a no-bid contract to a firm that had previously completed work at his golf club in Sterling, Virginia, the New York Times<\/a> reported. On June 4, both Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said<\/a> the project was finished and water would begin pouring back into the pool, which Burgum also said<\/a> was \u201cjust in time for our nation\u2019s 250th birthday\u201d on July 4.<\/p>\n