The National Capital Planning Commission has approved plans for President Trump's 250-foot memorial arch, granting the Trump administration the green light to begin construction. However, a federal judge has placed a temporary block on the project for at least 14 days following a lawsuit filed by Virginia and the District of Columbia.
The commission voted 8-4 in favor of the arch, which is slated for construction on a traffic circle between Arlington National Cemetery and Arlington Memorial Bridge, just across the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial. The Trump administration had expressed an intention to start construction immediately after the commission's approval.
During a lengthy nine-and-a-half-hour meeting preceding the vote, over 100 witnesses testified against the project. Critics argue the arch, designed to resemble France's Arc de Triomphe, will obstruct views between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial. Concerns were also raised about the legality of the project, with many asserting that congressional approval should have been sought.
"The arch is illegal. It is obscene. It is nothing more than a monument by and for a leader whose legacy will be vilified, as will those who support him," stated activist Susan Douglas during her testimony. Representative Jared Huffman echoed these sentiments, calling the proposed arch "a tribute to Donald Trump," rather than to veterans, and deeming the project ill-advised and unlawful.
Mark Paoletta, the commission chairman appointed by Trump, praised the president's initiative, stating, "President Trump understands as president and a superb builder that it’s important to our national identity to display who we are through grand monuments."
In September, Trump had previously indicated that the arch would serve multiple purposes, including housing "large numbers of drones, plus snipers, on both the roof and plaza areas," and storing "large quantities of sniper ammunition."
The arch is part of a broader initiative by the Trump administration to enhance the aesthetics of Washington, D.C., in commemoration of the United States' 250th anniversary. Previous projects in this effort include the refurbishment of the Reflecting Pool and plans for upgrades to a federally owned golf course. The administration's attempt to renovate the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts was previously blocked by a federal judge.