Advocacy group sues Trump administration over effort to paint reflecting pool 'American Flag Blue' [View all]
Source: NBC
A cultural nonprofit sued the Trump administration on Monday in an effort to block its ongoing repainting of the reflecting pool on the National Mall to make it American Flag Blue.
In papers filed in federal court in Washington, attorneys for Cultural Landscape Foundation argue that the resurfacing of the historic pool is unlawful, and it should be restored to its original color until the administration follows Congressionally mandated procedures to do the work.
The lawsuit asks a judge to immediately stop the work, which is being directed and overseen by President Donald Trump, who chose the color himself. The president has said he expects the work to be finished within the next two weeks.
The suit says that color is the main issue with the work being done on the 104-year-old pool.
The dark grey, achromatic basin was not incidental to the design. It was the design, attorney Alexander Kristofcak wrote.
The 1999 National Park Service Cultural Landscape Report for the Lincoln Memorial Grounds specifically identifies the dark-tiled basin as a character-defining feature of the historic landscape, noting that the dark color of the tile created the illusion of greater depth and a more profound reflection, the suit says.
Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/preservation-group-files-lawsuit-trump-administration-reflecting-pool-rcna344562