Waste of the Day: Overpaying for Reflecting Pool
Topline: The company renovating the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is being paid $850,000 more than the typical amount for comparable federal contracting work, according to a report from The New York Times. The vendor was paid a premium for “accepting a difficult job on a tight deadline,” and the government never checked to see if another company would be cheaper.
Key facts: Federal construction projects typically have profit margins of 6 to 12%, but Atlantic Industrial Coatings will make 20% profit for its work on the reflecting pool. The total taxpayer cost will be $13.1 million, seven times more than President Donald Trump claimed on May 7.
It’s part of several no-bid contracts the federal government has recently issued by classifying renovations at the Capitol as an “urgent need” ahead of a planned 250th birthday celebration for America.
“This project is now being completed at ‘Trump speed’ to ensure the iconic landmark is totally restored ahead of the 250th celebrations,” White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers told the Times.
The reflecting pool has been marred by leaks and algae blooms for decades. President Barack Obama spent $35 million to try and fix it, but the leaks returned a year later.
Atlantic Industrial Coatings is based in Virginia and has never worked on a federal contract before. The company received a rarely used “letter contract,” which lets a vendor begin construction work before both sides have agreed on a price. Contracting experts told the Times such contracts are typically used only for life-threatening emergencies.
Trump has contradicted himself when speaking about his involvement with the project. He said in April that he had worked with Atlantic Industrial Coatings before, and the company was “unbelievable at doing swimming pools.” Once the pool’s price tag received negative media coverage, Trump posted on Truth Social that the work was being done by a “contractor I did not know, and have never used before.”
The work was supposed to be completed by May 22, but issues with the contractor’s work have caused delays. Workers planned to use foam to plug leaks in the pool, but it didn’t work. And the pool’s new “American flag blue” coat of paint was sprayed unevenly, leaving different sections with different shades of blue.
Search all federal, state and local salaries and vendor spending with the world’s largest government spending database at OpenTheBooks.com.
Summary: Trump’s efforts to renovate the Capitol have drawn mixed reactions from the public, but most taxpayers can agree the work should be done with basic cost efficiency in mind.
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