Washington, D.C
Reflecting Pool being drained – again – as Trump administration tries once more to fix DC landmark – WTOP News
Crews began draining the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Sunday, according to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, for the second time in three months.
(CNN) — Crews began draining the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Sunday, according to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, for the second time in three months.
In an interview released Tuesday with Katie Miller, a conservative podcaster and wife of President Trump’s deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, Burgum said they started draining the pool as planned after the July Fourth fireworks show, noting some of the fireworks debris was still in the water.
Asked about the schedule for this round of renovations, he gave no specifics beyond a broad overview.
“Drain the water. Clean up the fireworks stuff. Repair the vandalism that was done. Fill it back up again,” Burgum said.
As of Tuesday evening, there was still water in the pool, and it was unclear if it will be drained further. Burgum indicated over the weekend that it may only need to be partially drained.
The move comes after weeks of problems – algae blooms, green-hued water, a chipping bottom and allegations of vandalism – have plagued the iconic landmark, making its woes the subject of a national fixation.
Members of the Trump administration, including President Donald Trump, have said vandals caused damage to the Reflecting Pool by gashing the lining, though they have not provided evidence to support that claim. In late June, the president said the pool would be drained after the July Fourth holiday to fix it.
The administration will use the same contractor, Virginia-based Atlantic Industrial Coatings, for this next round of repairs. Previously, the company landed a no-bid contract worth more than $14 million for their part of the work – sealing the pool and painting the bottom “American Flag- blue.”
Asked about the timeline for his part of the repairs, Eddie Gross, owner of Atlantic Industrial Coatings told CNN that “nothing has been set yet.” He declined to answer questions about his contract and the cost of additional repairs.
The Department of Interior did not respond to questions about the timeline for this round of repairs.
Burgum, in an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday, suggested the repairs could happen with the pool only being partially drained. He sought to portray the costs as minor.
“It’s going to be a small number because the majority of the work was related to the labor and the materials for the liner,” Burgum said.
“We’ll use the same company, because they did a fantastic job,” he said.
Burgum also said the government could “absolutely” prove the damage was caused by vandals, and that there are photographs supporting the claim. But he dodged a question about whether those photographs show anyone damaging the pool.
The secretary also denied that Trump having his motorcade drive through the pool mid-renovation in May did any damage to the site.
“No, I was with him when we came that night … We were driving in a Cadillac Escalade. It is one of the presidential fleet of cars,” Burgum said, adding that the vehicle Trump took on the ride was “substantially lighter” than the armored presidential limousine known as “The Beast.”
“The whole base level of this industrial rubber layer was not yet completed, and so there was no damage that night whatsoever,” he said. “That was one of the questions we asked before we even brought the presidential motorcade there, but not a chance.”
The other contractor involved in the project, Greenwater Services, previously told CNN that when the pool is drained it will not affect their system, which is up and running.
Chas Antinone, the president of Greenwater Services, told CNN the company can shut down and then restart the so-called ozone nanobubbler, as necessary.
Companies involved in the renovation have found themselves at the center of national news as Reflecting Pool issues continued.
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D.C. is the second riskiest city for driving, an insurance company report says.
Allstate said it looked at the number of crashes, how often they happen and certain types of behavior behind the wheel.
“On the phones, bike lanes, people on motor scooters having no regard for the law,” one driver told News4. “It is risky, yeah. I’ve seen a lot of close calls.”
The average driver around D.C. goes just about four years in between collisions. Drivers in the least risky city — Brownsville, Texas — go about 15 years in between collisions.
D.C. also got dinged for bad driving — like being on phones a lot — and plenty of nighttime driving, which increases risk.
Allstate analyzed property damage claims from January 2023 through December 2024 to rank cities. Here’s the Top 10:
- Boston
- D.C.
- Baltimore
- Worcester, Mass.
- Springfield, Mass.
- Glendale, Calif.
- Providence
- Sunrise Manor, Nev.
- Los Angeles
- Philadelphia
But local Allstate agent Rudy Alston says D.C. drivers themselves may not deserve the bad rap.
“I think a lot of it isn’t so much from D.C. natives,” he said. “I think it’s a lot of people coming from outside of D.C. — coming from Maryland and Virginia that commute to D.C. — that maybe aren’t as familiar with the traffic laws in D.C. and how congested D.C. is with the influx of pedestrians, Uber drivers, the Door Dash guys on the scooters, the Metrobuses. So, I just think when they get here, they’re just not familiar with it.”
Washington, D.C
Greenberg Traurig Adds Former Commerce Official Joe Bartlett to Washington, D.C., Office
WASHINGTON, July 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP made another key hire in its Washington, D.C., office with the addition of Joe Bartlett, who served as Deputy Under Secretary at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). Bartlett, who joins as a Senior Director, will be part of the firm’s Government Law & Policy, International Trade, National Security, and Defense, Aviation & Space practices.
Bartlett leverages more than a decade of experience through a wide-ranging career in Commerce, several U.S. House of Representatives offices and committees, and the private sector, giving him a comprehensive view of issues affecting the defense, international trade, technology, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, manufacturing, and emerging technology sectors from inside and outside the government. He’s established deep credibility with officials throughout the Administration and Congress, allowing Bartlett to counsel clients operating at the intersection of trade and national security by advising them on tariffs, export controls, trade policy, industrial and supply chain matters, and national security issues.
“As we continue to strategically expand our capabilities in Washington, D.C., across government policy, regulatory, litigation, lobbying, and transactional disciplines, we have been able to attract exceptional talent with deep experience at the highest levels of government and industry,” said Ernest LaMont Greer, Co-President of Greenberg Traurig and chairman of the Washington, D.C., office. “Joe’s unique background further strengthens our ability to help clients navigate increasingly complex challenges that combine business, policy, and national security concerns. His addition reflects both the strength of our Washington platform and our continued commitment to investing in the people and capabilities that matter most to our clients.”
Barlett’s arrival comes amid a string of high-profile additions to Greenberg Traurig’s Washington, D.C., office, including former Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Assistant Administrator Christopher J. Senn, who joined the firm’s Government Law & Policy Practice in June. Two months earlier, the firm added a six-member team that further bolstered the firm’s lobbying capabilities, including Shareholder Christopher DeLacy, co-chair of the Federal Government Law & Policy Practice, Shareholder Daniel Sennott, co-chair of the National Security Group, Shareholder Joel E. Roberson and Senior Director Matthew P. Satterley in the Government Law & Policy Practice, and Senior Director Misha Lehrer and Assistant Director James K. Hickey in the National Security Group. In January, the office also expanded its National Security Group with Shareholder E. Patrick Gilman, who co-chairs the group, Shareholder Neal Higgins, and Of Counsel Joshua W. Johnson.
“By combining the capabilities of our lawyers in different practices and taking advantage of Greenberg Traurig’s strategy of firmwide collaboration, we have created an all-in-one D.C. platform to guide our clients through the often-opaque world of government regulation and international trade,” DeLacy and Sennott said in a joint statement. “Given his experience in key positions in Congress, the Administration, and the private sector, Joe is a marquee addition to our growing group who will serve as a guide for our clients, and our colleagues, across a wide range of issues. We’re thrilled to have him on board.”
Bartlett held progressively senior roles on the House Armed Services Committee and in member offices, focused on defense, intelligence, foreign affairs, and trade policy. He then worked for a leading American autonomous drone manufacturer, giving him firsthand understanding of how technology companies navigate federal policy and government procurement frameworks. Bartlett earned a master’s degree in Defense and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College.
In 2025, he joined the administration as Director of Legislative Affairs for BIS, giving him insight into how export control policy is shaped through the interplay of executive action and congressional oversight. He was then promoted to Deputy Under Secretary of the Bureau, where he oversaw policy and operations related to U.S. export control regulations, trade in dual-use technologies, and various industrial base policies.
Bartlett said his experience has shown him how the government handles strategic trade issues related to everything from steel and critical minerals to semiconductors and other critical technologies. He decided to join Greenberg Traurig because the firm has the resources and expertise to handle that full range of matters and the global reach to follow his clients wherever their work takes them.
“There has been a fundamental reordering of global trade across virtually every industry, and clients need to understand what that means for them,” Bartlett said. “All industries, and technology companies especially, are adapting every day to better understand and take advantage of the opportunities provided by the changing political environment and we are well positioned to help them navigate these changes. I’m excited to get started.”
With this addition, Greenberg Traurig has welcomed more than 20 shareholders, of counsel, and senior policy professionals to its Washington, D.C., office since the start of 2025, reflecting one of the most sustained periods of strategic growth in the office’s history. Those arrivals include Environmental Shareholder Stacey Bosshardt and Of Counsel Edward Roggenkamp; Financial Regulatory & Compliance Shareholder Ryan Hayden; Gaming Shareholder Rajat R. Shah; International Trade Shareholder Luciano Racco; Space & Satellite Shareholder Dr. Michael C. Mineiro; Technology, Media & Telecommunications Shareholder Kathryne C. Dickerson; State Attorneys General Practice Shareholders Douglas Gansler and Stephen Ruckman; State & Local Tax Shareholder John Ormonde; and Energy & Natural Resources Shareholder Adam Gendelman, among others.
Bartlett is not admitted to the practice of law.
About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP has more than 3,100 lawyers across 51 locations in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia. The firm’s broad geographic and practice range enables the delivery of innovative and strategic legal services across borders and industries. Recognized as a 2025 BTI “Best of the Best Recommended Law Firm” by general counsel for trust and relationship management, Greenberg Traurig is consistently ranked among the top firms on the Am Law Global 100, NLJ 500, and Law360 400. Greenberg Traurig is also known for its philanthropic giving, culture, innovation, and pro bono work. Web: www.gtlaw.com.
SOURCE Greenberg Traurig, LLP
4 things to know about the weather:
- Foggy start Tuesday morning
- Scattered showers & a few storms again Tuesday
- Not as hot Tuesday
- Slowly moving storms could cause flooding conditions later Tuesday afternoon/evening
After Monday night’s storms, we’re waking up to a fair amount of fog. Expect highs in the low 80s on Tuesday.
A few isolated showers are working across some of the northern suburbs of D.C. and they’ll move towards to east. Like Storm Team4 said on Monday, there’s daily chances of thunderstorms in the forecast now until the start of the upcoming weekend.
Look out for storms starting at about 6 p.m. Tuesday night and again at 9:30 p.m. In some areas, there’s a chance of flooding again.
On Wednesday, we’ll see clouds again but less rain chances. There’s a chance of on-and-off showers and a rumble of thunder on Thursday and then finally we’ll start to see a trend where things will start to get brighter and drier as a weather front comes though on Friday.
That weather front actually late into the evening may touch off a few more showers and storms that could linger into Saturday morning, but the trend Saturday and into Sunday is for drier air to replace all this moisture humidity. We’re going to see drying conditions on Saturday with highs right around 87 degrees.
Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to check the weather radar on the go.
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QuickCast
TUESDAY
Mostly Cloudy | Muggy | Scattered Showers & Storms (50% Chance)
HIGH: 84F
TUESDAY NIGHT
Scattered Showers/Storms | Muggy
Temps: 70s Area-Wide
WEDNESDAY
Mostly Cloudy | Muggy | Scattered Showers & Storms (50% Chance)
HIGH: 83F
THURSDAY
Mostly Cloudy | Showers/ Storms Likely (60% Chance)
HIGHS: Upper 80s
FRIDAY
Partly Sunny | Isolated Showers/Storms Storms (30% Chance) | Hot
HIGHS: Near 90F
SUNSET: 8:36p
Averages: 89/72F
Stay with Storm Team4 for the latest forecast. Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to get severe weather alerts on your phone.
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