Trump Administration Gilds Lincoln Memorial Horses with $5 Million Gold-Leaf Contract

In April 2024 the National Park Service awarded a $5 million contract to a Maryland gilding studio to apply 23.75-karat gold leaf to four bronze horses that flank the Lincoln Memorial. The work is slated for completion before United States’ 250th anniversary on July 4, when the statues will be displayed as part of a broader Washington beautification effort.

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The horses were last restored in the 1970s. The initiative follows aesthetic upgrades pursued during President Donald Trump’s second term, including a 2017 gold-leaf refinish of the Wyoming capitol dome, and has been affected by gold-price increases.

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The $5 million award is part of at least $95 million the Interior Department is spending on D.C. beautification, plus $20 million in unreported contracts covering them. The contract also includes repair work, though exact fund allocation is undisclosed.

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It said, “Due to the urgent nature of this requirement, market research was limited to available historical data and publicizing a special notice to SAM.gov.” It added the studio “is the only source capable of performing this requirement.”

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Peter Sepp, gold-leaf supplier, disputed the claim: “There are others that are also qualified that were not contacted, which I’m rather surprised about, because there’s plenty of people that could also do the same quality work.” A former General Services Administration official mocked: “It’s the 250th anniversary that’s coming up, and instead of spending a hundred million dollars we normally spend on District of Columbia, we want to spend $250 million. That’s perfectly normal.” NOTUS noted, “The park service did not do market research on whether $5 million price was a fair one.”

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The agency’s claim of a sole qualified source conflicts with expert testimony that multiple firms could gild the horses. Award notice was posted for only six days, limiting comment. Detailed cost breakdowns for gold leaf versus other repairs are unavailable.

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• “Due to the urgent nature of this requirement, market research was limited to available historical data and publicizing a special notice to SAM.gov,” — Interior Dept.

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• “There are others that are also qualified that were not contacted, which I’m rather surprised about, because there’s plenty of people that could also do the same quality work,” — Peter Sepp, supplier

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• “It is within the realm of reason to say: It’s the 250th anniversary that’s coming up, and instead of spending a hundred million dollars we normally spend on the District of Columbia, we want to spend $250 million. That’s perfectly normal,” — former GSA official

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• “ According to agency documents seen by NOTUS, “The park service did not do extensive market research on whether the $5 million price was a fair one.” — NOTUS

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The gilding is expected to be finished before July 4, 2024. The brief public notice and lack of competitive bidding have prompted calls for oversight of Interior Department’s D.C. beautification spending.

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