Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) is calling out the media’s fixation on the price tag of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool restoration, urging critics to “get over it” and celebrate the preservation of a national landmark. The project, a priority for President Donald Trump ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary, is currently estimated to cost $13.1 million following necessary adjustments to meet an ambitious deadline.
The Interior Department added $6.2 million to the project contract on Friday to account for the specialized labor and materials required to expedite the repairs.
While the New York Times highlighted that the figure sits above the President’s initial $1.8 million projection, officials say the cost reflects the reality of a high-pressure timeline.
The Virginia-based Atlantic Industrial Coatings was brought on via a no-bid contract in April—a move justified by the urgent need to prevent “serious injury” to the government’s ability to host the upcoming 250th celebrations.
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President Trump previously noted that the company was selected based on their proven track record, including work at his golf club in Sterling, Virginia. The restoration isn’t just a patch job; it involves sealing leaking concrete joints, applying a specialized “American Flag Blue” waterproof coating, and installing a modern ozone nanobubbler filtration system.
“President Trump has done more to make our nation’s capital a shining beacon than any other president in the history of this country,” a DOI spokesperson said, noting that the National Park Service chose the best firm to ensure the pool remains a “magical spot” for generations.
The DOI also clarified that the increased cost is a direct result of the “effort necessary to expedite the timeline,” citing the need for “more people, more materials, more equipment and longer hours.”
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Despite the media scrutiny, Senator Fetterman emerged as an unexpected ally of the project’s progress. In a Monday post on X, the Pennsylvania Senator told the Times to “stop this henpecking.”
“$13M? This is an iconic American place and was in serious disrepair,” Fetterman wrote. “Get over the TDS and celebrate this is getting done for our 250th.”
The project now includes a dedicated maintenance crew to protect the site from wildlife damage, ensuring the reflecting pool is in peak condition for the millions of visitors expected to descend on the capital for the upcoming national milestone.
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