As a federal panel prepares to grant final approval to President Donald Trump's proposed "triumphal arch," a Vietnam veteran leading the legal challenge against the project has labeled it "frankly blasphemous."
Michael Lemmon, who served in the Army and worked in the foreign service, told the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) that the arch would "profoundly disturb the peace and tranquility" befitting those interred at Arlington National Cemetery. The commission, which was expected to cast its final vote following public testimony, is led by Trump appointees.
The proposed arch would stand more than twice the height of the Lincoln Memorial, exceeding the 99-foot height of the iconic monument and surpassing France's Arc de Triomphe.
During public testimony, Rep. Jared Huffman, a Democrat from California, criticized the project, stating it "would dishonor America, our ideals and our laws." NCPC Chair Mark Paoletta countered Huffman's arguments by asserting the project's historical authorization, citing Congress's approval of the initial plan for Memorial Bridge over a century ago.
A lawsuit filed by Lemmon and other veterans, recently joined by the District of Columbia and Virginia, alleges that the Trump administration violated federal law by failing to secure specific congressional authorization for the arch.
Paoletta defended the project, framing it as "President Trump's historic vision for a monumental arch at Memorial Circle" that would "honor our nation and her veterans, and provide the sacred ground of Arlington National Cemetery with the monumental gateway it deserves." He also suggested the arch could serve a security function, housing drones and ammunition to protect the capital.
The administration has indicated that construction could commence as soon as the NCPC grants its final approval. However, the judge overseeing the lawsuit has mandated that the administration provide at least 30 minutes' notice before any work begins. This directive follows an incident where a construction contractor reportedly painted lines on the grounds without authorization from the National Park Service, prompting NPS officials to state they may "periodically visit the site to prevent unauthorized activity."
Planning documents indicate the Park Service intends for the arch's construction to occur over two to three years, with work scheduled for 20 hours per day.