Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Firm Tied to Trump Donor Got No-Bid Contract to Clean Reflecting Pool (Greenwater Services... lol!)
A business tied to a longtime supporter of President Trump was given a no-bid contract to install a water-purification system in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool earlier this spring.
Now that work is coming under scrutiny after algae blooms have come back and turned the iconic pool in Washington a vibrant shade of green rather than the American-flag blue Mr. Trump says he chose.
The contract shows that the National Park Service bypassed the competitive-bidding process that is typically required, and gave a $1.7 million contract to the firm, Greenwater Services of Brookfield, Ohio.
Federal contracting records show that firm’s ultimate owner is the J.J. Cafaro Investment Trust, led by John J. Cafaro, a donor to Mr. Trump and a neighbor to Mar-a-Lago, the president’s private club in Florida. The water treatment company also listed Mr. Cafaro’s Palm Beach mansion as its address in Florida corporate records, and listed his investment trust’s phone number and email in Ohio lobbying records.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/18/us/politics/trump-donor-contract-reflecting-pool.html
Now that work is coming under scrutiny after algae blooms have come back and turned the iconic pool in Washington a vibrant shade of green rather than the American-flag blue Mr. Trump says he chose.
The contract shows that the National Park Service bypassed the competitive-bidding process that is typically required, and gave a $1.7 million contract to the firm, Greenwater Services of Brookfield, Ohio.
Federal contracting records show that firm’s ultimate owner is the J.J. Cafaro Investment Trust, led by John J. Cafaro, a donor to Mr. Trump and a neighbor to Mar-a-Lago, the president’s private club in Florida. The water treatment company also listed Mr. Cafaro’s Palm Beach mansion as its address in Florida corporate records, and listed his investment trust’s phone number and email in Ohio lobbying records.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/18/us/politics/trump-donor-contract-reflecting-pool.html
The NYT photo is from 2002. If you’re wondering “Has this guy been turning more into Paul Bearer since then†you better believe the answer is yes
— Patrick Monahan (@pattymo.com) 2026-06-19T02:53:02.703Z
Lol found his mug shot. He's the guy who bribed Traficant
— Helen Kennedy (@helenkennedy.com) 2026-06-19T02:01:47.449Z
6 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
Biggest laugh for me is the fact they referenced Dr. Paul Bearer—ridiculously hilarious Tampa Bay Saturday creature feature host, whose tag line was “I’ll be lurking for you…” 
Was he actually known outside Florida?
