'American flag blue': The Trump color choice that put the iconic Reflecting Pool on trial

WASHINGTON, DC: A nonprofit preservation group filed a federal lawsuit on Monday, May 11, challenging President Donald Trump’s ongoing renovation of the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall, arguing the project violates federal environmental and historic preservation laws.

The lawsuit targets the decision to repaint the bottom of the iconic pool in what Trump has described as “American flag blue.”

The Cultural Landscape Foundation and its founder, Charles Birnbaum, filed the suit in US District Court in Washington, DC, and requested emergency intervention to immediately stop the project.

Federal officials defended the renovation, saying it is intended to improve the site ahead of celebrations marking the United States’ 250th anniversary.

Preservationists challenge blue redesign of Reflecting Pool

The lawsuit argues that the National Park Service moved forward with the resurfacing project without conducting the consultation process required under the National Historic Preservation Act and the National Environmental Policy Act.

According to the complaint, the new coating “will fundamentally alter the visual and experiential character of the pool and the broader Lincoln Memorial Grounds landscape.”

The plaintiffs contend that the Reflecting Pool’s darker gray basin was an intentional part of the original design and central to the atmosphere of the memorial site. 

“The dark gray, achromatic basin was not incidental to the design. It was the design,” the lawsuit states, citing previous National Park Service reports that described the darker color as creating “the illusion of greater depth and a more profound reflection.”

The Reflecting Pool stretches between the Lincoln Memorial and the World War II Memorial and reflects the Washington Monument across a span roughly equivalent to 12 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

It has undergone multiple renovations since its dedication in 1922, including a major restoration project during former President Barack Obama’s administration in 2012.

Trump announced last month that the pool would be coated in “American flag blue,” criticizing previous renovations and calling the former gray appearance unattractive.

Last week, Trump traveled through the drained pool in his motorcade to inspect the work and praise construction crews involved in the project.

The lawsuit also claims the Park Service improperly relied on a streamlined approval process intended for maintenance and minor repairs, despite the plaintiffs arguing the repainting significantly changes the landmark’s historic appearance.

Interior department defends project ahead of 250th celebrations

Federal officials defended the renovation after the lawsuit was filed. An Interior Department spokesperson said the administration’s work on the National Mall would improve the visitor experience and preserve the landmark for future generations.

“President Trump has done more to make our nation’s capital a shining beacon than any other president in the history of this country,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

“The National Park Service chose the best company to expedite the repair of the iconic Reflecting Pool ahead of our 250th celebrations,” the statement added. “The choice of American Flag Blue will enhance the visitor experience by making the pool reflect the grand Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument.”

The lawsuit was assigned to US District Judge Carl Nichols, a Trump appointee. Alongside the complaint, the plaintiffs filed a motion seeking a temporary restraining order to halt construction while the case proceeds.