Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) has proposed an unconventional solution for the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool: let nature take its course. The pool has been plagued by algae growth and paint problems just days after the completion of a $14 million renovation championed by former President Donald Trump. Trump had hailed the project as a picture-perfect restoration and claimed, without providing evidence, that vandals were responsible for the issues.
Burchett's Reaction to the Controversy
On Tuesday, the MeidasTouch Network asked Burchett for his reaction to the controversy. In an exchange posted on X, Burchett dismissed the algae as a natural occurrence. "It's algae, it's science, it's just going to happen," he replied. He acknowledged the challenges of maintenance, noting, "It'll be darker, of course. You've got a filtration system and you're going to have to hit it with the chlorine … or bleach or whatever, I know they did peroxide, there's other methods too."
A Radical Proposal
Burchett then proposed a radical alternative. "But, you know, honestly, I think it would be cool if they just let it go and create an eco-system, have fish in there and everything and just let it go. I think it would be a cool way to go." He pivoted to discussing his own experience renovating a pool at his new house, which had essentially been "just a frog pond." He said he was quoted $80,000 for the job but ended up doing the work himself for about $2,500.
Context of the Renovation
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, a iconic landmark on the National Mall, underwent a $14 million renovation funded by the Trump administration. The project aimed to restore the pool to its original grandeur, but recent reports show algae blooms and peeling paint, raising questions about the effectiveness of the restoration.
