The National Capital Planning Commission voted 9 to 1 on June 4, 2026, to advance President Donald Trump's proposal for a 250-foot triumphal arch in Washington, D.C.. The vote moves the project to the next review phase despite overwhelming public opposition.

 

Planning Commission Votes to Advance Trump’s Plan for Towering Arch

The National Capital Planning Commission voted 9 to 1 on June 4, 2026, to advance President Donald Trump's proposal for a 250-foot triumphal arch in Washington, D.C.. The vote moves the project to the next review phase despite overwhelming public opposition.

 

Key Details of the Project

• Dimensions: The structure will stand 250 feet tall, making it more than double the height of the Lincoln Memorial.
• Location: Planned for Memorial Circle, a traffic roundabout situated between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
• Design Features: The granite arch features a Lady Liberty-style figure holding a torch, gilded eagles, and the phrases "One Nation Under God" and "Liberty and Justice for All" in gold lettering. Original plans for four gold lions at the base were removed.
• Purpose: Proposed to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States.

Current Hurdles and Criticisms

• Public Opposition: The commission received nearly 1,700 public comments regarding the monument, with over 99% opposing the build.
• Required Revisions: The panel's approval was conditional, requiring the project team to address issues concerning visitor traffic, lighting, and stormwater management.
• Height Restrictions: The arch faces scrutiny regarding whether it violates the federal Height of Buildings Act, which generally restricts D.C. structures to 160 feet.
• Air Traffic Review: Because the structure exceeds 200 feet, the Federal Aviation Administration is evaluating whether it poses an aerial hazard to flight paths for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, located two miles away.
• Legal Challenges: A group of military veterans and a historian filed a lawsuit to block construction, arguing it disrupts the symbolic Civil War reunification sightline between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington House.

The design previously secured approval from the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts in May 2026. President Trump has asserted that congressional approval is not required since the project is on federal land owned by the Department of the Interior.