Fact Check: Is Trump administration spending $5M to coat horse statues in gold?

WASHINGTON, DC: A recent report has sparked attention by claiming that, amid ongoing changes around the Lincoln Memorial, the Trump administration plans to restore the four large bronze horse statues located in Washington, DC.

The statues, long regarded as iconic landmarks, are said to have undergone little major restoration in decades, with their once gold-toned finish reportedly faded and their stone bases showing visible signs of wear.

According to the same report by NOTUS, the proposed restoration would include a $5 million allocation to recoat the statues in gold ahead of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations on July 4. Let’s fact-check the claim.

Claim: NPS awarded a $5 million contract to coat horse statues in gold

In mid-April, the National Park Service allegedly awarded a $5 million contract to a Maryland-based gilding studio to restore the horse statues and apply a thick layer of 23.75-karat gold leaf. According to apparent agency documents, the project was awarded without a full competitive bidding process.

Officials reportedly said the $5 million contract includes additional restoration work beyond gold leafing, though the gold itself accounts for a significant portion of the cost, especially as gold prices have nearly doubled in recent years.

The Interior Department is also supposedly spending at least $95 million in taxpayers' money on various DC beautification projects.

The National Park Service reportedly hired The Gilders’ Studio to restore the 80,000-pound statue pairs known as the Arts of War and the Arts of Peace. Agency records state that the company is applying an unusually thick layer of nearly pure gold, even heavier and purer than the “extra-thick” gold it previously used on the Wyoming State Capitol dome seven years ago.

Fact Check: Trump administration is not spending $5 million on horse statues

The claim that the Trump administration is spending $5 million of taxpayer money on horse statues is false. The NOTUS report appears to have originated from confusion with a separate gold-leafed statue of Donald Trump displayed at Trump National Doral in Florida, which was privately funded by cryptocurrency entrepreneurs and supporters, not public funds.

A former General Services Administration official commented on broader spending for America’s 250th anniversary, saying large budgets for Washington, DC, projects are not unusual, but criticizing the lack of transparency in how funds are being used.

The Gilders’ Studio, which was awarded the contract, did not release a comment. Some gilding experts told NOTUS that while the studio is reputable, it is not uniquely qualified compared to other firms. One industry expert, Peter Sepp, said several other companies could have delivered similar quality work but were not consulted.

However, the Interior Department defended its decision, stating that the studio’s specialized experience and ability to meet tight deadlines made it the only suitable choice for the project.

Most of the approximately $95 million being spent on DC beautification projects is going toward restoring fountains and upgrading parks.