In its suit, the nonprofit said the dark colour of the pool’s basin “creates the sweeping mirror image of the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument that millions of visitors experience every year”.
The suit added: “The dark grey, achromatic basin was not incidental to the design. It was the design.”
The foundation accused the administration of “altering the historic character of the Reflecting Pool without following Congressionally mandatory procedures”.
It said the “desecration” of the Reflecting Pool was “part of a pattern” of remodelling projects by Trump that included the destruction of the East Wing of the White House to make way for a massive ballroom.
The ballroom project is also the subject of a legal battle.
Trump has also recently unveiled plans to build a huge arch in the nation’s capital to mark the July 4 independence anniversary.
Since taking office, Trump has also paved over the Rose Garden lawn at the White House and plastered the Oval Office with gold decorations and criticisms of former Democratic presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama.
- AFP
