Interior Secretary Doug Burgum on Sunday defended the Trump administration's renovations of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, stating that the project has been a significant success despite ongoing issues with peeling paint and algae.

Renovations to the iconic pool, which began in April, have already cost over $16 million, exceeding the initial no-bid contract by $4 million. The Trump administration has prioritized these repairs ahead of the nation's 250th anniversary celebration.

Burgum told ABC News' "This Week" that the pool is no longer leaking 45,000 gallons daily and that only a small fraction of the industrial liner, less than one-tenth of one percent, remains to be fixed due to damage attributed to vandals. He noted that the majority of the initial cost was for labor, materials, and a new "nanobubbler" system designed to combat the persistent algae problem.

The additional fixes for the damaged liner are expected to be minimal, with Burgum emphasizing that the cost will be "a small number." He indicated that the majority of the work involved the liner and the advanced algae-fighting system. Burgum also mentioned that more cameras have been installed to deter further vandalism.

President Trump has asserted that vandals caused a 350-foot gash in the pool's liner, suggesting it was cut with a knife or box-cutter. Burgum corroborated these claims, stating that a "small group of people" attempted to damage the memorial. He reassured that all vandalized areas are repairable and will be fixed in the coming weeks.

The Reflecting Pool renovations have drawn criticism from some officials, including House Oversight Committee Democrat Robert Garcia. In June, Garcia sent letters requesting more information from contractors regarding the project, labeling the pool's refurbishment as "Trump's latest failed vanity project."

Burgum maintained that the initial renovation was completed at a lower cost compared to past projects. He highlighted the success of the nanobubbler system in overcoming the long-standing challenge of algae growth in the shallow pool during hot weather.

With the nation preparing to celebrate its 250th anniversary, Burgum expressed confidence that the Reflecting Pool's issues, including the remaining vandalism repairs, would be fully resolved. The project's cost and the attribution of damage to vandalism remain points of contention.