Nonprofit Sues to Halt Trump Administration’s Blue Reflecting Pool Resurfacing

A nonprofit organization has filed a federal lawsuit to stop the Trump administration’s ongoing project to resurface the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall in a bright blue color dubbed “American Flag Blue.” The Cultural Landscape Foundation (TCLF) argues that the administration has failed to follow congressionally mandated procedures, including the National Historic Preservation Act, before altering the historic pool.

The lawsuit, filed in Washington, D.C., names the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service as defendants and seeks an immediate halt to the resurfacing work. TCLF contends that the administration began the project without proper congressional review or consultation with experts and relevant nonprofit organizations, violating Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. “No consulting parties have been notified, engaged, or given an opportunity to participate,” the complaint states.

The Reflecting Pool, which dates back 104 years and was last comprehensively renovated in 2012, traditionally features a dark gray stone bottom designed to create an illusion of depth and a profound reflection. The lawsuit emphasizes that this dark basin is a character-defining feature of the historic landscape, citing a 1999 National Park Service Cultural Landscape Report. The new blue coloration, the suit argues, will make the pool resemble a swimming pool rather than a reflective civic space, distorting the experience for millions of visitors.

Charles Birnbaum, TCLF president and CEO, described the blue-tinted basin as “more appropriate to a resort or theme park,” stressing that the Reflecting Pool is part of the larger National Mall ensemble, where the design intent is to maintain a solemn and hallowed visual connection between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.

President Donald Trump announced the project in late April, expressing dissatisfaction with the pool’s condition and selecting the blue color himself. “It’s going to be a beautiful color,” Trump said during a visit to the site last week. He described the previous gray stone as “never good” and said the new surface uses “the latest and greatest filament.” Trump initially estimated the project would cost about $2 million and be completed within weeks.

However, a report by The New York Times revealed that the government awarded a no-bid contract worth over $13 million to Atlantic Industrial Coatings, a firm previously involved with Trump properties. The Interior Department defended the contract, stating it reflects the resources needed to expedite the project ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations. A spokesperson said the blue surface “will enhance the visitor experience by making the pool reflect the grand Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument,” and that a new ozone nanobubbler filtration system and dedicated maintenance crew will support the pool’s upkeep.

The lawsuit also highlights a pattern of the current administration proceeding with major renovations and construction projects without adhering to legal requirements. Similar lawsuits are pending regarding the White House East Wing demolition, renovations and renaming of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and plans to build a large arch near the Potomac River. Courts have issued orders to halt or regulate some of these projects pending further review.

TCLF’s complaint urges the court to act swiftly, stating, “Every day that the resurfacing continues, the historic character of the Reflecting Pool is being further and fundamentally altered.” The group calls for the work to be stopped until the administration complies with federal preservation laws.