The National Park Service awarded a $5.1 million no‑bid contract to Maryland‑based Gilders’ Studio to re‑gold the Arts of Peace and Arts of War statues that crown two bridges near the National Mall. Originally slated at $2.4 million, the project now aims to finish before the July 4, 2026, bicentennial celebrations.

Agency officials justified bypassing competitive bidding by claiming no other vendor could handle the delicate 23.75‑karat gold‑leaf work within the tight deadline. Internal memos label the statues a “high‑impact example” of the Park Service responding to presidential directives, highlighting the administration’s broader push to refurbish Washington landmarks.

Critics, including the National Parks Conservation Association, warn that repeated no‑bid awards risk inflated costs and uneven quality, noting that private homeowners typically solicit multiple bids for comparable projects. The contract adds to a pattern of Trump‑era deals that sidestep standard procurement rules, raising questions about fiscal oversight for future capital‑improvement initiatives.