Lawsuit seeks to halt Trump’s makeover of Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool

A historic preservation group filed a lawsuit on Monday seeking to halt President Donald Trump’s ongoing renovation of the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool, escalating a series of legal challenges tied to his efforts to reshape Washington, D.C., landmarks.

The Cultural Landscape Foundation alleges that the project violates the National Historic Preservation Act, a federal law that sets procedures for modifying historic properties. The group is requesting an emergency court order to stop the work, which includes replacing the pool’s traditional gray stone appearance with an industrial-strength blue coating resembling a swimming pool.

According to the lawsuit, the original dark gray design of the reflecting basin was a deliberate and essential part of its historic character, not merely an aesthetic choice.

The case names the Department of the Interior, which oversees the renovation. In a statement, the agency defended the project and said Trump has contributed significantly to improving the nation’s capital.

Trump announced the renovation last month, describing it as “fantastic” and “really beautiful.” He also visited the site during an unannounced trip as construction got underway.

The former president said the idea for the project came after a visiting friend from Germany criticized the condition of the reflecting pool, describing it as dirty and unfit to represent the United States.

Several of Trump’s other redevelopment efforts in Washington, including upgrades to public golf courses and plans for a White House ballroom, have also faced legal opposition.

In March, a federal judge temporarily halted construction of the ballroom, ruling that work must stop until Congress provides clear authorization. An appeals court later lifted that injunction, allowing construction to continue while the case proceeds. -Reporting by Jan Wolfe in Washington; Editing by Matthew Lewis/Reuters