Trump Administration Recycles Same Contractor for Reflecting‑Pool Repairs, Burgum Says

Washington — In a move that’s raising eyebrows on Capitol Hill, the Trump administration announced this week that it will once again call on the same contractor that handled the previous water‑feature fixes to mend the damaged liners of the National Mall’s iconic reflecting pools.

According to Doug Burgum, the former North Dakota governor who now sits on the administration’s infrastructure advisory panel, the decision was driven by “proven performance” and a desire to avoid the delays that can come with opening a brand‑new bidding process.

“We’ve seen what this company can do,” Burgum said in a brief interview. “They got the job done before, and they’re ready to step back in and handle the repairs now that the liners have cracked after the recent storms.”

The pools — the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, the one by the Washington Monument, and a smaller basin near the Jefferson Memorial — have reportedly suffered from a series of small but persistent leaks. Over the past few months, the water level has fluctuated, exposing sections of the underlying concrete and prompting concerns about safety and aesthetics.

Officials from the Department of the Interior, which oversees the National Park Service’s maintenance of the Mall, confirmed that a contract worth roughly $12 million has been awarded to AquaSeal Solutions, a firm based in Virginia that specializes in waterproofing large‑scale public works.

“AquaSeal has the experience, the equipment, and the crew already familiar with these sites,” a spokesperson said. “Re‑engaging them now lets us get the work started quickly, before the summer heat worsens the condition of the liners.”

Critics, however, argue that the repeated use of a single vendor sidesteps the competitive‑procurement rules that are meant to keep federal spending in check. Representative Maria Torres (D‑CA) issued a statement calling the decision “a shortcut that could cost taxpayers more in the long run.”

Supporters counter that the urgency of the repairs — and the unique challenges of working around historic monuments — make a fast‑track approach sensible. “When you’re dealing with sites that attract millions of visitors, you can’t afford a year‑long bidding cycle,” said Michael Reed, a senior analyst at the Center for Government Efficiency.

While the contract is slated to begin in early August, the work is expected to continue through the winter, with crews working in shifts to minimize disruption to tourists. The administration hopes the repaired liners will not only restore the pools’ iconic mirror‑like surface but also prevent future water loss.

As the project moves forward, eyes will be on the quality of the repairs and the transparency of the procurement process — a reminder that even seemingly simple tasks like fixing a pool can become flashpoints in the larger debate over how the federal government spends money.