The renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has taken an unexpected turn, as the contractor responsible for the recent restoration admitted that its own miscalculations, rather than vandalism, led to the failure of the new blue liner.

Atlantic Industrial Coatings conveyed in a report submitted to the Trump administration that “human oversight” during application and a flawed repair plan were to blame for the liner’s peeling. The revelation contradicts earlier claims by President Trump, who attributed the damage to vandalism.

According to documents reviewed by the New York Times, the company detailed its findings in an August 14 report, followed by additional insight on September 2. Inadequate primer coverage and the use of incompatible chemicals were identified as the main culprits.

Atlantic stated that workers failed to apply enough of the primer essential for adhering the liner’s layers, which resulted in a compromised installation. More critically, the company’s decision to mix two chemically incompatible compounds caused the liner to blister and detach under excessive heat.

Despite the previous claims of vandalism, Atlantic’s report did not link the caulking cuts—damage allegedly inflicted by individuals with knives or box cutters—to the liner’s issues. Trump himself had described those responsible for the damage as “sick people.”

A spokesperson for the Interior Department, Katie Martin, refrained from addressing Atlantic’s findings directly. Instead, she reiterated the narrative of vandalism, asserting that individuals had “repeatedly reached into the pool and ripped at the coating,” leaving a trail of damage.

As the situation unfolded, Martin claimed that Atlantic was “well on its way” to making the necessary repairs, although no timeline was provided for refilling the pool.

Documented progress from the contractor, beginning August 13, illustrates the extent of the repair process. Workers initiated the restoration by power-washing the pool, leading to a significant amount of liner debris filling trash bags by the end of that day.

The company’s efforts included scraping leftover liner pieces with sharp tools, and despite attempts to reapply the blue coating, blisters continued to appear underneath the new layers.

Atlantic’s technicians eventually adjusted their approach after discovering that the compounds were reacting negatively with each other. This led them to halt the application of the hotter chemical, which reduced blistering but did not completely eliminate it.

Interestingly, the contractor also identified a new potential source for the issues: worker perspiration. Reports indicated that droplets from a worker wearing a protective suit under the hot sun were causing further complications with the coating.

Despite these mishaps, the government has committed $14.7 million to the contractor for the pool’s renovation. Atlantic has indicated it will continue to make repairs under warranty.

The renovation project has attracted attention at the highest levels, with Interior Department appointee Gregory Wischer overseeing work personally. Wischer, who previously worked in metal processing, is now involved in several presidential projects in Washington.

The Reflecting Pool was originally slated for completion prior to the nation’s 250th birthday celebrations on July 4, as Trump sought to enhance Washington, D.C.’s aesthetics.

However, the project was handed to Atlantic without competitive bidding, raising concerns given that the Virginia firm had no prior federal contracts despite experience at a Trump golf club.

Problems emerged soon after the June reopening of the pool, which was intended to feature a vibrant blue color but quickly succumbed to algae blooms and peeling liner.

Federal prosecutors early this month indicted a former Olympic athlete on charges of vandalism for allegedly damaging the liner, but soon dismissed the case after uncovering information about installation errors.

In the aftermath, Trump publicly criticized the U.S. attorney who dropped the charges, expressing disappointment and asserting that the vandalism issue, while real, was exaggerated.

As workers remain on site, repairs to the Reflecting Pool will continue, with the hope that future layers will hold for a presentation that honors the nation’s history.