The Cultural Landscape Foundation is seeking to halt the blue coating project at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, alleging that the work moved forward without required review of changes to the historic National Mall site.

According to the Washington Litigation Group, the firm filed the emergency lawsuit on behalf of The Cultural Landscape Foundation and its president and CEO, Charles A. Birnbaum. The firm said the lawsuit asks the court to stop the coating work until the administration complies with procedures designed to allow public input on changes to historic monuments.

The Washington Litigation Group said the complaint alleges that the application of a vivid blue coating to the Reflecting Pool violates the National Historic Preservation Act and other laws. The filing argues that the pool’s dark gray surface is an integral part of the site’s historic design because it supports the reflective visual connection between the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and United States Capitol.

The Associated Press reported that the lawsuit names the U.S. Department of the Interior and the National Park Service, which oversee much of the work underway in Washington. In a statement to AP, an Interior Department spokesperson defended the work being carried out by the Park Service and said the project is intended to allow the site to be enjoyed for the nation’s 250th anniversary and for future generations.

Reuters reported that the lawsuit seeks to stop an overhaul focused on replacing the pool’s gray stone appearance with what it described as an industrial-strength blue coating. The outlet also reported that the lawsuit argues the project should have gone through historic preservation review before work began.

A SAM.gov award notice for “NAMA 291052 Paint Lincoln Reflecting Pool” identifies Atlantic Industrial Coatings Limited Liability Company as the awarded contractor for the project. The notice lists the award amount at $6,886,519.80.

Although the exact coating system used for the Reflecting Pool has not been publicly identified, the project highlights the performance demands tied to pool and water-feature coatings. Technical literature from Benjamin Moore / INSL-X, Dyco and Tnemec on pool coatings and related systems cites resistance to water immersion, chlorine or pool chemicals, abrasion, UV exposure and seasonal temperature changes as common performance considerations.

President Donald Trump has defended the material as more than paint, saying at a Rose Garden event that the coating is “highly sophisticated stuff,” according to AP. The lawsuit remains focused on whether the project required federal historic preservation review and public input before work began.

The White House also published two videos about the Reflecting Pool project, including an April 23 video titled “President Trump is Making the Reflecting Pool Beautiful Again” and a May 8 video titled “Restoring the Reflecting Pool.” The videos present the administration’s view of the work and show the coating project as part of broader restoration activity at the site. PCI is including the videos as White House-produced source material related to the project, while the lawsuit continues to focus on whether the work required additional historic preservation review and public input.

Sources:

• Washington Litigation Group: “Lawsuit Filed to Halt Painting Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.” 
• Associated Press: “A nonprofit sues to halt Trump’s ‘American flag blue’ repaint of the Reflecting Pool.”  
• Reuters: “Lawsuit seeks to halt Trump’s makeover of Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool.” 
• SAM.gov notice: “Z--NAMA 291052 Paint Lincoln Reflecting Pool.”
• Benjamin Moore / INSL-X Epoxy Pool Coating technical data sheet.  
• Dyco Waterborne Acrylic Pool Paint technical data sheet.  
• Tnemec Pool Coatings flier.
• White House: “President Trump is Making the Reflecting Pool Beautiful Again.”
• White House: “Restoring the Reflecting Pool.”

Correction: This article has been updated to refer to The Cultural Landscape Foundation as a national education and advocacy organization rather than a preservation group.