John Fetterman

Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman defended the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool renovation costs, saying, "Stop this henpecking," following a The New York Times' report on the increased price tag.

"Stop this henpecking. $13M? This is an iconic American place and was in serious disrepair. Get over the [Trump Derangement Syndrome] and celebrate this is getting done for our 250th," Fetterman posted on X on Monday, including a screenshot of the headline for the Times' story.

Last month, Trump ordered the repair project for the United States' 250th anniversary, with plans to repaint the reflecting pool "American flag blue," ensure its bottom is waterproof, and mend leaking joints, The Hill reported.

The project's estimated cost was originally announced at $1.8 million, but the Times on Monday cited federal records that show the actual cost has increased to an anticipated $13.1 million.

The Interior Department reportedly added $6.2 million to the previous cost of the $6.9 million no-bid contract on Friday, which was awarded to Atlantic Industrial Coatings.

“The contract price reflects the effort necessary to expedite the timeline of completing the leak prevention coating project — more people, more materials, more equipment and longer hours ahead of our 250th,” a DOI spokesperson told The Hill on Monday.

Trump blasted the Times' report on Tuesday, saying, "I saved more than 390 Million Dollars, and 4 years of no 'mess,' and was, of course, given no credit by the biased New York Times."