Story perspectives

Trump Blames Vandalism as $1.7 M Contract Funds Algae Cleanup

6/20/2026

Summary

Story summary

President Donald Trump blamed vandalism for the green water.
The Interior Department awarded a $1.7 million contract to a Trump-donor Ohio firm for a purification system.
Scientists, including a Smithsonian marine plant specialist, said the algae is harmless.
Workers observed epoxy coating peeling and hydrogen peroxide treatments raising phosphate levels.
National Park Service staff deployed nanobubble ozone technology and vacuumed dead algae, although green patches remained visible later.

History

Historical Context

The 2010 Deepwater Horizon blowout released about 775 million liters of oil, leading the Interior Department to create a $20 billion escrow and sparking litigation that produced over 390,000 claims and roughly $65 billion in settlements. That costly precedent frames today’s Trump administration’s $1.7 million Interior contract for algae monitoring at a national park.

1 of 2

Story summary

President Donald Trump blamed vandalism for the green water.
The Interior Department awarded a $1.7 million contract to a Trump-donor Ohio firm for a purification system.
Scientists, including a Smithsonian marine plant specialist, said the algae is harmless.
Workers observed epoxy coating peeling and hydrogen peroxide treatments raising phosphate levels.
National Park Service staff deployed nanobubble ozone technology and vacuumed dead algae, although green patches remained visible later.

1 / 2