Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool repairs proceed without new bids, Doug Burgum says

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the Trump administration will not invite new bids to fix the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Burgum faced questions on Sunday about the troubled repair work and public spending. Burgum said the pool must be partly drained in the coming week. Burgum insisted the administration will keep the same contractor.

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Burgum said the damage came from vandals and not from faulty work. Like President Donald Trump, Burgum said he was "100 per cent\" sure. Trump said a 350-foot gash was cut during renovations. Burgum described several cuts that together totalled 350 feet.

Reflecting Pool repairs and contractor choice

Burgum said the work will stay with the current company. \"Well use the same company, because they did a fantastic job,\" Burgum told CNNs State of the Union. Burgum said the damage still mattered despite its size. \"Thankfully, the vandalism was small. It was bad.\"

Burgum said repairs could be costly and lead to serious charges. \"I mean, it could cost tens of thousands of dollars to repair, so then it could fall into a felony... just like damaging any other government property could.\" Burgum also defended the workmanship after the incident. \"But the job that was done to fix the Reflecting Pool was done extremely well.\"

Reflecting Pool project concerns and investigations

Questions have also focused on contracts linked to vendors with past ties to Trump. Ohio-based Green Water Solutions, also known as Greenwater Services, received USD 1.7 million. The contract was for a water-purification system in the Reflecting Pool. Virginia-based Atlantic Industrial Coatings received $14.7 million to repaint and waterproof the floor.

About 10 Democratic senators and House members have been investigating the project. A letter signed last month by six senators raised accountability concerns. \"Taxpayers deserve a full explanation of how these failures occurred and who will be held accountable for correcting them,? said the letter. Burgum also appeared on ABCs This Week.

Reflecting Pool damage arrests and legal case

Authorities have arrested more than a half dozen people tied to the Reflecting Pool damage. Former Olympian David Hearn was indicted last week on a felony count. US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said Hearn caused more than USD 1,000 in damage. Pirro said Hearn pulled up newly installed sealant on purpose.

Pirro said Hearn \"forcefully and violently\" pulled up the bottom liner with both hands. Pirro also said Hearn acted belligerently toward an employee who tried to stop him. Hearns lawyers, Norm Eisen and Mary Dohrmann, called the charges outrageous. Eisen and Dohrmann said the case showed misuse of government power based on a concocted narrative.

On CNN, Burgum did not directly answer if photos showed vandals cutting the liner. Burgum also faced questions about a possible 10-year prison sentence for Hearn. That term is the maximum penalty for the charge. \"Just because you were a former something doesnt exclude you from the law today,\" Burgum told CNN. \"The courts will decide.\"

Reflecting Pool renovations and July Fourth closure

Trump said this spring the pool would be improved before the July Fourth 250th birthday celebrations. Water was drained and the bottom was painted a shade Trump called American flag blue. After restoration, an algae bloom lasted for more than a week. Some pieces of the new coating appeared to be peeling from the bottom.

The Reflecting Pool was closed during the Independence Day celebration. Burgum said the closure was due to a fireworks-related safety issue. The continuing dispute has widened debate over Trumps effort to remake Washington landmarks. That push has included changes involving the White House. The administration has been nearly two years into Trumps final term in office.

With inputs from PTI