Washington arch project gets federal approval
The National Capital Planning Commission approved Donald Trump’s proposed 250-foot triumphal arch in Washington late Thursday, advancing the project through federal review despite objections from roughly 100 critics, including Democratic lawmakers, who raised concerns during the process.
The Justice Department has told the court it expects six to eight months of excavation and foundation work to start this week if a judge allows it. Above-ground construction would begin in May 2027 at the earliest, with the full job taking 33 to 39 months.
A federal judge is weighing several legal challenges, including a lawsuit filed by Virginia and the District of Columbia against the National Park Service and the Interior Department. The lawsuit calls the project “legally indefensible” and argues that Congress never approved it.
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The government counters that Congress authorized the arch more than a century ago, when it approved a bridge across the Potomac River. Representative Don Beyer, who represents northern Virginia, said the arch “will snarl traffic for years” and affect the nearby airport. Don Beyer also expressed concerns about the project’s impact on the local community.
The monument would stand on a highway roundabout across the Potomac from the Lincoln Memorial, near the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery. It would be more than 80 feet taller than the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and close to the height of the 288-foot US Capitol.
Plans include an eternal flame and floodlights to make it visible to pilots. A rendering shows the flame held aloft by a 60-foot gold, winged female figure flanked by gold eagles. The site lies near the final approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. They have designed the monument to be a prominent feature of the city’s environment.
