Reflecting Pool liner was cut with a sharp knife or razor, National Park Service says

The U.S. Capitol and the Washington Monument are reflected in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Thursday, June 25, 2026, in Washington.

A top official at the National Park Service says a liner along the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was cut with a sharp knife or razor this month, causing damage to the foam sealant installed as part of a $16 million rehabilitation project.

(Image credit: Carolyn Kaster)