President Donald Trump turned course last month when he said his proposed 250-foot arch would have a military complex attached. But new documents indicate that Trump’s security plans — which seemed to be a late addition meant to boost the project’s chances — are not part of the final plan.
Trump’s push to highlight the project’s military importance came as the arch drew deep scrutiny for its hefty multimillion-dollar price tag. However, plans published by the National Capital Planning Commission made no mention of defense facilities.
On Sept. 20, Trump said the military requested that the Memorial Circle project house a “top-grade military complex.” That proposal would have housed, stored and allowed use of large numbers of drones and snipers on both the roof and plaza areas, in addition to storing large quantities of sniper ammunition.
The final project plans, as published by the Interior Department, include construction of the Triumphal Arch’s associated plaza and landscape improvements, supporting utility and stormwater infrastructure, traffic and pedestrian circulation modifications, security features, lighting and temporary staging and laydown areas.
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There are no indications the project will include military infrastructure based on the submitted details.
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In an emailed statement to The Washington Sun, the Interior Department said the arch’s current design is capable of accommodating the national security function mentioned in the president’s Truth Social post. The Pentagon referred The Washington Sun to the White House, which did not respond to a request for comment.
The DOI maintains the arch will enhance the visitor experience at nearby Arlington National Cemetery.
The proposed concrete structure has drawn criticism from flight attendants and veterans, who warn it could pose safety risks to pilots and obstruct landmark views. The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA denounced Trump’s plans, arguing the project would pose a threat to aviation safety.
The flight attendants’ union said the arch would interfere with planes’ final approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and cited safety concerns stemming from the Jan. 29, 2025, crash in which an American Airlines commercial plane and an Army helicopter collided midair over the Potomac River, killing 67 people.
“DCA is already stretched to its limit, we do not need an obstacle taking up space in our flight path,” said the association’s president, Sara Nelson. “Nor should commercial aviation have to dodge military drones, missiles, or snipers while attempting to take off or land at Washington National Airport. Safety first always.”
In a statement issued in September, the Federal Aviation Administration said the arch would not pose a safety hazard to aircraft.
Experts reviewed airspace, air traffic patterns and procedures around the airport, as well as operations at nearby military/public-use airports and found the arch would be appropriately marked with a non-standard eternal flame on top of the structure and floodlight projectors pointed toward the arch to make it noticeable to pilots, the FAA said.
Despite promoting the project as a memorial to military service, three veterans have sued the Trump administration to bar it from erecting the arch without congressional approval, stating the “view of the Lincoln Memorial from Arlington House will be obscured, disrupting the historic and symbolic link between the two.”
The National Capital Planning Commission has scheduled a hearing on Nov. 5 to discuss the prospective arch.
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