The Department of Justice dropped vandalism charges against former Olympian David Hearn after concluding that contractor errors and a rushed installation tied to America 250 and Independence Day 2026 caused damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The pool — part of a recent $16 million renovation — remains drained, fenced off and undergoing further repair work. Visitors expressed frustration at limited access and criticized the arrests made earlier in the investigation. The Interior Department has been tasked with additional repairs, but officials have not released a firm timeline.
DOJ Drops Vandalism Charges After Contractor Error Blamed for Reflecting Pool Damage
Visitors to the Lincoln Memorial walk near the drained Reflecting Pool, following renovations and Independence Day celebrations, in Washington, DC, on July 30, 2026.
The Department of Justice has dropped criminal charges against 67-year-old former Olympian David Hearn after investigators concluded the ongoing problems with the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool were caused by a contractor's flawed installation and a rushed schedule tied to America 250 and Independence Day 2026 events.
Background and DOJ Ruling
In a July 31 court filing, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia said the damage observed at the pool stemmed from "flawed installation by the contractor … and the rush to complete the project prior to events associated with the America 250 celebration in the weeks surrounding Independence Day 2026." Hearn, a 67-year-old former Olympic canoeist, had been arrested in June and charged with felony destruction of property; prosecutors alleged more than $1,000 in damage.
Public Reaction and Site Conditions
USA TODAY visited the Reflecting Pool on Aug. 1 and found the site drained, cordoned off and inaccessible to visitors. Photographs and inspections in mid-July showed an exposed basin with scattered debris — including remnants from Fourth of July fireworks — lower water levels, fencing, and ducks swimming in reduced water.
President Trump posted on Truth Social on Aug. 1, questioning the DOJ's decision and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro's approach: "I don't know what she was thinking? To me, it was a pure case of VANDALISM."
Voices From the Mall
Visitors expressed frustration at the restricted access to a well-known national landmark. Justin Saunders, 40, a freelance contractor visiting from Los Angeles, said he was surprised the pool was closed and called the arrests "pretty entertaining," adding that people should not have been charged for the alleged conduct.
Ann Marquis, 63, a Maryland retiree, urged that the next repairs be done properly so the pool "matches the beauty and the magnificence of Washington DC," and criticized the earlier arrests of visitors who put their hands in the water. Mark Ernst, 61, called the drawn-out work "annoying" but said he supports improvements that make the site better and more durable.
Next Steps
The president announced the Interior Department would oversee additional renovations to the pool after the Fourth of July events. USA TODAY has contacted the Interior Department for details about the repair timeline; officials have cited the contractor's rushed schedule as a primary factor in the damage.
Context: Several people were arrested in connection with post-renovation damage before the DOJ concluded that contractor installation errors were the likely cause. The now-dismissed charges against Hearn followed an investigation that ultimately attributed the problem to construction issues rather than intentional vandalism.
Reporter: Michelle Del Rey, USA TODAY. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY.
TheLincoln Memorial Reflecting Poolunderwent another drainage revealing an empty basin with scattered debris as Trump’s renovation project faces mounting woes.(Josh Morgan, USA TODAY)
Debris from the Fourth of July fireworks show sit in the emptyLincoln Memorial Reflecting Poolafter it was drained for cleaning and repairs on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.(Josh Morgan, USA TODAY)
A National Park Service ranger inspects the empty Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after it was drained for cleaning and repairs on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.(Josh Morgan, USA TODAY)
A man walks past the empty Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after it was drained for cleaning and repairs on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.(Josh Morgan, USA TODAY)
Ducks gather around one of the last remaining areas of standing water at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after it was drained for cleaning and repairs on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.(Josh Morgan, USA TODAY)
The base of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is visible after it was drained for cleaning and repairs on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.(Josh Morgan, USA TODAY)
Women walk past the empty Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after it was drained for cleaning and repairs on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.(Josh Morgan, USA TODAY)
Debris from the Fourth of July fireworks show sit in the empty Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after it was drained for cleaning and repairs Tuesday, July 14, 2026.(Josh Morgan, USA TODAY)
The base of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is visible after it was drained for cleaning and repairs on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.(Josh Morgan, USA TODAY)
Workers instal a tarp over the fencing in front of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after it was drained for cleaning and repairs on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.(Josh Morgan, USA TODAY)
People take photos of the empty Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after it was drained for cleaning and repairs on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.(Josh Morgan, USA TODAY)
A National Park Service ranger inspects the empty Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after it was drained for cleaning and repairs on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.(Josh Morgan, USA TODAY)
Workers instal a tarp over the fencing in front of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after it was drained for cleaning and repairs on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.(Josh Morgan, USA TODAY)
A woman runs past the empty Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after it was drained for cleaning and repairs on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.(Josh Morgan, USA TODAY)
People take photos of the empty Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after it was drained for cleaning and repairs on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.(Josh Morgan, USA TODAY)
Jul 14, 2026; Washington DC, A National Park Service ranger inspects the empty Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after it was drained for cleaning and repairs Tuesday, July 14, 2026. Washington DC, USA Mandatory Credit: Josh Morgan-USA TODAY [Via MerlinFTP Drop](Josh Morgan, Josh Morgan-USA TODAY)
A worker at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool as it sits nearly empty after it was drained for cleaning and repairs on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.(Josh Morgan, USA TODAY)
A National Park Service ranger inspects the empty Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after it was drained for cleaning and repairs on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.(Josh Morgan, USA TODAY)
Ducks swim around as the draining of theLincoln Memorial Reflecting Poolcontinues, following renovations and Independence Day celebrations, in Washington, DC on July 12, 2026.(Leah Millis, REUTERS)
A person observes theLincoln Memorial Reflecting Poolthrough a fence as its draining continues, following renovations and Independence Day celebrations, in Washington, DC on July 12, 2026.(Leah Millis, REUTERS)
A child rides their bike past the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool as the draining of the pool continues, following renovations and Independence Day celebrations, in Washington, DC on July 12, 2026.(Leah Millis, REUTERS)
Visitors observe the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool through a fence as its draining continues, following renovations and Independence Day celebrations, in Washington, DC on July 12, 2026.(Leah Millis, REUTERS)
A visitor looks through a fence at theLincoln Memorial Reflecting Poolon the National Mall in Washington, DC on July 11, 2026.(Daniel Heuer, REUTERS)
Ducks sit in lower water levels in theLincoln Memorial Reflecting Poolon the National Mall in Washington, DC on July 11, 2026.(Daniel Heuer, REUTERS)
Fencing surrounds theLincoln Memorial Reflecting Poolon the National Mall in Washington, DC on July 11, 2026.(Daniel Heuer, REUTERS)
A visitor looks out of a window at the Washington Monument towards the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, DC on July 11, 2026.(Daniel Heuer, REUTERS)
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on the National Mall in Washington, DC on July 11, 2026.(Daniel Heuer, REUTERS)
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is visible behind a fence on Friday, July 10, 2026, after it was announced that crews will drain it to clean and repair damage to the lining that was installed as part of a multimillion dollar renovation project that was plagued with issues just days after the pool’s reopening.(Josh Morgan, USA TODAY)
People walk past the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on July 10, 2026, after it was announced that crews will drain it to clean and repair damage to the lining that was installed as part of a multimillion dollar renovation project that was plagued with issues just days after the pool’s reopening.(Josh Morgan, USA TODAY)
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is visible Friday, July 10, 2026, after it was announced that crews will drain it to clean and repair damage to the lining that was installed as part of a multimillion dollar renovation project that was plagued with issues just days after the pool’s reopening.(Josh Morgan, USA TODAY)
A man and his son look at the the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool from behind a fence Friday, July 10, 2026, after it was announced that crews will drain it to clean and repair damage to the lining that was installed as part of a multimillion dollar renovation project that was plagued with issues just days after the pool’s reopening.(Josh Morgan, USA TODAY)
A man films the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Friday, July 10, 2026, after it was announced that crews will drain it to clean and repair damage to the lining that was installed as part of a multimillion dollar renovation project that was plagued with issues just days after the pool’s reopening.(Josh Morgan, USA TODAY)
The Washington Monument is visible as a visitor takes a picture of the Reflecting Pool though a chain link fence on the National Mall on July 9, 2026 in Washington, DC. Green water remained in the chain link fence enclosed Reflecting Pool on Thursday after Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced Sunday that crews would drain the pool for a second time in three months for repairs and cleanup following months of maintenance issues, as protesters gathered outside the arraignment hearing of former Olympian David Hearn, who is accused of damaging the landmark.(Andrew Harnik, Getty Images)
A vacuum assisted pump is seen adjacent to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting pool on the National Mall in Washington, DC on July 10, 2026. (Photo by Kent Nishimura / AFP via Getty Images)(KENT NISHIMURA, AFP via Getty Images)
Workers install privacy mesh on fencing along the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting pool on the National Mall in Washington, DC on July 10, 2026. (Photo by Kent Nishimura / AFP via Getty Images)(KENT NISHIMURA, AFP via Getty Images)
Help us improve.
