National Park Service workers use skimmers to clean algae from the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool following the completion of recent renovations in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 15, 2026. REUTERS/Ken Cedeno
Workers were spotted dumping gallons of hydrogen peroxide into the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Tuesday, days after President Donald Trump's $14.2 million renovation painted it "American flag blue" only to have algae turn it mossy green within 12 days.
CBS News journalist Bob Kovach documented the chemical treatment on video.
The project, originally pitched as a $1.5 to $2 million one-week job, ballooned into a no-bid contract awarded to Atlantic Industrial Coatings. Pool renovation expert Steve Goodale, known as "Swimming Pool Steve," warned darker paint absorbs more sunlight, raises water temperature, and makes algae blooms inevitable.
Other people reacted to the national monument turning bright green.
"Y'all, not to be a huge nerd but for the reflecting pool you would need a minimum of about 8,000 liters of 12% hydrogen peroxide to reach the 50 parts per million concentration to kill algae," Dr. Michael O'Brien, a South Carolina pediatrician, wrote on X.
"They are now pouring bottles of hydrogen peroxide into the ultra-green algae-filled Reflecting Pool that Trump wasted $10m of our money on," commentator Brian Krassenstein posted on X.
The Interior Department blamed residual algae from dormant supply lines and claimed nanobubblers would prevent future blooms, but critics questioned why the administration lacked scientific expertise to anticipate the problem.
"Is this what happens when you have 0 scientists in your administration?" said Dr. O'Brien.
Watch the video below.