Construction on President Donald Trump’s triumphal arch could start in two weeks pending final approval from a federal commission stacked with Trump appointees, administration lawyers said in a Wednesday court filing.
The National Capital Planning Commission, a panel in charge of approving projects on federal land in the D.C. area, will meet Nov. 5 to give final review to Trump’s proposed 250-foot arch. Construction could “commence immediately” if the commission approves the plan, the Interior Department authorizes work and the National Park Service publishes notice on the same day, the two-page court filing said.
The arch is slated to be built at Memorial Circle outside of Arlington National Cemetery on an island in the Potomac River. The site sits within the borders of D.C. but is adjacent to Arlington.
Ahead of the November vote, the Trump administration has replaced career officials serving as alternate members on the commission with political allies, according to updates made on the National Capital Planning Commission website.
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The president’s arch has faced pushback from historic preservationists and local advocacy groups who argue it will interrupt the visual harmony of the capital, disrupt the peaceful atmosphere at the cemetery and add another obstacle for flights at nearby Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Three Vietnam War veterans sued the Trump administration in February to pause work on the structure, citing concerns over a lack of congressional approval, an obstructed view of Arlington National Cemetery and increased traffic near the construction site.
In another lawsuit filed this month, Arlington County seeks to halt construction pending a thorough environmental review. The complaint alleges the Trump administration did not properly evaluate the project’s potential harm or propose meaningful alternatives as required by federal law. Both lawsuits are ongoing.
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