DOJ Says Trump Triumphal Arch Will Finish After Term
The US justice department stated that Donald Trump's proposed 250ft Washington arch would be finished after his term ends.
The United States Department of Justice announced on Tuesday that a proposed 250-foot triumphal arch in the Washington area, championed by Donald Trump, would not reach completion until after the end of his second term. If given formal approval, the government expects the initial excavation and foundation phase to take six to eight months and potentially begin as soon as Thursday. Above-ground construction would then commence no earlier than May 2027, with the total construction timeline estimated to span between 33 and 39 months.
The proposed structure is modelled after the famous Arc de Triomphe in Paris and is planned near the Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, situated just across the Potomac River from Washington. The National Capital Planning Commission scheduled a meeting to vote on the proposal for Thursday, while the Department of the Interior indicated in a court filing that it might issue its final approval on the same day. Additionally, the National Park Service could issue a permit or authorization on the same date.
However, the project has met significant legal hurdles. Over the weekend, the state of Virginia along with the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit against the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service in an effort to halt construction immediately. The plaintiffs labeled the initiative legally indefensible and argued that Congress has never approved it. A separate legal challenge has been brought by several veterans who argue the arch will ruin the historic sightline connecting the Lincoln Memorial to the Arlington National Cemetery.
The proposed 250-foot Washington arch will take up to 39 months to build if approved.
In response to these legal challenges, the government urged US District Judge Tanya Chutkan to dismiss the motion to stop construction. Officials defended the location and height of the monument by suggesting it could serve a defensive purpose for the capital against emerging threats such as drones. Concerns were also voiced regarding the proximity of the arch to the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and its position within primary flight approach corridors. Despite these worries, the Federal Aviation Administration determined that the project does not present aviation safety hazards, noting that the structure will feature an eternal flame and floodlight projectors to ensure pilots can spot it easily.
This arch forms part of a broader administrative initiative to reshape Washington DC. Other efforts in this wider campaign include renovating the reflecting pool at the Lincoln Memorial, redeveloping a golf course located in East Potomac Park, attempting to add Trump's name to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and seeking to attach his name to the US Institute of Peace.