Full Breakdown
Trump Administration Allocates $5 Million to Regild D.C. Horse Statues Ahead of 250th Anniversary
5/29/2026, 5:28:28 AM
Regilding the Arts of War and Arts of Peace
The National Park Service awarded a $5 million contract to The Guilder’s Studio, Inc. of Maryland to restore and coat the four bronze equestrian statues—Arts of War and Arts of Peace—surrounding the Lincoln Memorial, which were first restored in 1970 and have since faded. The work includes full conservation, regilding with 23.75-karat gold leaf, and comprehensive bronze conservation, and is slated for completion by September 30 2026, with a possible earlier finish by July 4.
Background: D.C. Beautification Drive
President Donald Trump has made a D.C. beautification agenda a hallmark of his second term. Government data from Dec 2025–Apr 2026 show $95 million earmarked for capital-wide projects, of which the statue regilding is one component. In August 2025 Trump posted on Truth Social, “People are flocking to D.C. again, and soon, the beautification will begin!”
Timeline
- Apr 21 2026 – NPS awards $5 M contract to The Guilder’s Studio.
- July 4 2026 (possible) – Early finish cited by NOTUS.
- Sept 30 2026 – Projected completion.
- May 2026 – ABC News reports a $400 M settlement with TikTok and its parent company ByteDance that could fund beautification.
Data & Statistics
$5 million funds the statue regilding. $95 million has been allocated to D.C. beautification projects (Dec 2025–Apr 2026). ABC News notes a potential $400 million settlement with TikTok and its parent company ByteDance that could be redirected to the same agenda.
Why It Matters
The gold-leaf finish aims to showcase a historic landmark ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary, while the settlement proposal raises questions about fiscal priorities, as critics argue money intended for child-privacy victims may be used for ornamental projects.
Official Statements & Responses
Trump’s Truth Social post framed the effort as part of a broader D.C. revival. The NPS contract explicitly calls for “full conservation and regilding” and “comprehensive bronze conservation,” defining the project’s technical scope.
Criticism & Opposition
ABC News highlighted concerns that the $400 million TikTok settlement could divert funds from compensating victims of the 2024 child-privacy lawsuit to finance beautification, prompting calls for transparency on settlement allocation.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The purpose of this acquisition is to procure the services necessary to complete the work required, including the full conservation and regilding of four (4) monumental equestrian bronze sculptures,” — National Park Service contract
- “Work includes comprehensive bronze conservation.” — National Park Service contract
- “People are flocking to D.C. again, and soon, the beautification will begin!” — Donald Trump, Truth Social
What’s Next
The project should finish by late September 2026, after which the statues will display a fresh gold finish. Concurrently, negotiations on the TikTok settlement will decide whether the $400 million is redirected to beautification or allocated to victim compensation, shaping the administration’s next steps in D.C.
