The federal government awarded a $1.7 million no-bid contract to a company owned by a Trump donor to install a new water cleaning system at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, according to federal records reviewed by CBS News.
The contract went to Green Water Solutions, an Ohio-based company whose owner is listed on federal contracting documents as the JJ Cafaro Investment Trust. Federal Election Commission filings identify the president and CEO of that trust as John J. Cafaro. The New York Times was first to report on Cafaro's connection to the project.
Cafaro has donated to several Republican candidates and conservative causes. FEC records show he gave $250,000 to the Trump Victory fundraising committee in 2020. Records also show donations to Democratic candidates at various points.
Cafaro has a notable legal history. He pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations in 2010 related to donations to his daughter's congressional campaign. Nearly a decade before that, he pleaded guilty to conspiring to bribe Democratic Rep. James Traficant and cooperated with federal prosecutors. Cafaro and his wife own a home in Palm Beach, Florida, less than one mile from Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort.
Green Water Solutions specializes in removing algae, bacteria and other contaminants using a system that injects ozone-infused nano bubbles into water. Federal contracting records show the company previously received a $1 million government contract in 2025 for a feasibility study on using the same technology to treat sewage flows in the Tijuana River.
The company also appeared to have done work at a Trump Organization property. On its LinkedIn page, Green Water Solutions posted photos of water treatment work it performed on a pond at Trump's golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, more than a year ago.
The Reflecting Pool is a century-old basin spanning more than 300,000 square feet that has struggled with algae blooms for years. Trump has taken a personal interest in the overhaul, visiting the site and, according to CBS News, personally selecting the color of an industrial-grade sealant applied to the pool's stone floor, described as "American Flag Blue."
Green Water Solutions was hired by the Department of the Interior in April to install the Nano Bubble system. Inquiries to Cafaro did not receive a response. The company referred CBS News to the National Park Service, a division of the Department of the Interior.
