India, July 10 -- Crews began draining the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool again on Sunday, the second time in three months that the century-old National Mall landmark has been emptied in the Trump administration's increasingly troubled effort to restore it, as officials continued to blame vandalism rather than the quality of the repair work itself for the waterway's recurring problems.

US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum confirmed the draining in an interview with conservative podcaster Katie Miller, the wife of White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, saying the timing had been planned to follow the administration's Fourth of July fireworks display over the National Mall.

"Drain the water, clean up the fireworks stuff. Repair ...