President Donald Trump’s plan to coat the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in “American flag blue” has sparked a lawsuit from the Cultural Landscape Foundation. Filed on Monday (May 11), the lawsuit argues that the renovation violates environmental and preservation laws. The foundation claims that the blue paint alters the historic character of the pool without proper authority.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, seeks an emergency intervention to halt the project. According to the Cultural Landscape Foundation, the National Historic Preservation Act requires consultations before altering a historic property, a step they allege was skipped. The group also contends that the National Environmental Policy Act’s requirements were not met.
The National Park Service awarded a $6.9 million no-bid contract to Atlantic Industrial Coatings for the project. An Interior Department spokesperson stated that the choice of blue paint would enhance the visitor experience by reflecting the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument.
The lawsuit follows President Trump’s announcement last month about the pool’s renovation, part of his broader efforts to beautify the nation’s capital. However, the project has faced criticism and legal challenges, similar to other initiatives like the planned White House ballroom and renovations to the city’s golf courses.
Charles Birnbaum, president of the Cultural Landscape Foundation, emphasized the importance of preserving the pool’s traditional achromatic design, stating that the blue color is more suited to a resort or theme park. The foundation seeks a temporary restraining order to prevent further application of the blue paint.
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