A no-bid contract awarded by the Trump administration to repair the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool included "excessive" profit margins and "inflated overhead," according to federal documents obtained by The New York Times.
Contract Details
The $13.1 million deal, given to Virginia-based Atlantic Industrial Coatings, allowed the contractor to claim 20 percent profits—roughly double the typical 6 to 12 percent margin on similar projects. This resulted in at least $850,000 in extra compensation, a National Parks Service analysis found.
The contract also featured other irregularities, including work reportedly beginning before a final price was agreed upon, a method typically reserved for emergencies. Despite these findings, the government decided to proceed with the deal, with the contracting officer determining that "due to the risk of the project, the inflated overhead and profit percentages of 20 percent were reasonable."
Administration's Defense
The Trump administration defended the process, arguing that Atlantic Industrial Coatings was the only company capable of completing the renovation in time for America's 250th anniversary celebrations this summer. A Department of the Interior spokesperson told The Independent: "The company selected was the only company that had the expertise, staff, and materials necessary to complete the project in time for major celebrations ahead of our 250th." The spokesperson added that the contract price reflected the expedited timeline, requiring more people, materials, equipment, and longer hours.
The president defended the project during a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, falsely claiming that previous administrations had spent hundreds of millions of dollars on the pool. In reality, the Obama administration spent about $35 million, and the Biden administration did not pursue major repairs.
Broader Renovation Efforts
President Trump initially claimed the resurfacing could be done for $1.5 million and mentioned a contractor who worked on a Trump golf course, though Interior Secretary Doug Burgum later clarified that contractor was not involved. Trump recently drove down the emptied pool with his entourage, praising crews who are refinishing the surface and painting it bright blue. The administration has pursued rapid renovations of Washington monuments, including no-bid contracts and unilateral demolition of the White House East Wing, as part of preparations for America 250 celebrations.
