Federal Panel Votes To Build Trump Arch
The National Capital Planning Commission approved the 250-foot monument on an 8-4 vote, triggering a fast-track construction timeline while court battles continue.
By Aiko Soto ·
Washington, D.C. has long served as a stage for presidential legacy projects, and the latest addition has cleared a major regulatory hurdle despite ongoing legal disputes.
The National Capital Planning Commission voted 8-4 on Thursday to approve the construction of a 250-foot memorial arch near downtown Washington. President Donald Trump has championed the gilded structure as part of his broader effort to redesign the capital region. The vote allows the administration to begin breaking ground within one day.
The decision comes as the project faces three active lawsuits. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan is presiding over the challenges and has requested notification of the commission's decision within one hour. She is expected to rule soon on whether to block construction while the litigation proceeds.
The commission's meeting lasted hours and drew dozens of opponents who joined a remote hearing that experienced technical difficulties. Many speakers were veterans or relatives of service members buried at nearby Arlington National Cemetery. They argued the arch would disrupt the historic sight lines between the Lincoln Memorial and the cemetery.
Commission Chairman Mark Paoletta, a Trump appointee who also serves as general counsel for the White House Office of Management and Budget, defended the project. He described the arch as essential to the nation's identity and cited historical precedents in Paris, Rome, and London. He called the lack of a memorial at the site a national disgrace, referencing a 1925 law.
Critics voiced strong opposition during the proceedings. Representative Jared Huffman of California called the arch a tribute to the president rather than to veterans. He described the structure as similar to monuments built for emperors and argued that the administration was using veterans as a pretext. Julia Spain, an Iraq war veteran and member of the Arlington County Board, told a crowd at the proposed site that the moment was a civil rights issue.
The proposed structure is more than 12 stories high and includes a bronze statue of Lady Liberty with wings and an eternal flame. The design features an observation deck, offices, elevators, and a fire command center. The project also proposes traffic changes in the area and includes a national security function. When complete, the arch would stand 100 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty without its pedestal.
Attorneys for the Justice Department informed Judge Chutkan that a contractor had completed site preparation work on October 31. They stated this work was done without authorization from the National Park Service. The plaintiffs in the lawsuits are seeking a halt to all work on the monument until the courts resolve the disputes.
