A historic preservation group has filed a lawsuit to block Donald Trump's renovation of the Lincoln Memorial's reflecting pool, alleging violations of the National Historic Preservation Act. The Cultural Landscape Foundation, a non-profit, filed the suit on Monday, seeking an emergency order to stop the overhaul.
The renovation focuses on replacing the pool's current 'gray stone' appearance with an industrial-strength coating in the colour of a blue swimming pool. The lawsuit argues that the dark grey basin was integral to the original design. 'The dark grey, achromatic basin was not incidental to the design. It was the design,' the lawsuit states.
The case has been brought against the US Department of the Interior, which oversees the renovation. In a statement, the department defended the project, saying Trump 'has done more to make our nation's capital a shining beacon than any other president in the history of this country'. Trump announced the nearly $7 million project in April, calling it 'fantastic' and 'really beautiful'. He has said he was motivated after a visiting German friend criticised the pool's condition.
This is not the first legal challenge to Trump's Washington projects. Renovations to city golf courses and construction of a White House ballroom have also faced lawsuits. A federal judge blocked above-ground construction of the ballroom in March, but an appeals court later lifted the injunction, allowing work to continue.
