Trump Arch vote expected Thursday
Planners are set to approve the 250-foot structure despite legal challenges from Virginia and the District of Columbia.
By Mariam Saleh ·
The National Capital Planning Commission is expected to vote Thursday to approve the construction of a massive arch in Washington, D.C.
The structure, which President Donald Trump described as a celebration of the nation's 250th anniversary, will stand 250 feet tall in Memorial Circle. This location places the monument between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. Construction is scheduled to begin almost immediately after the vote.
Mark Paoletta, the commission chairman appointed in August, called the lack of such a memorial a national disgrace. He praised Trump's monumental vision during the recent hearing. Paoletta stated the project would be the grandest arch ever built by mankind. The commission is led by Trump appointees and is considered likely to give the project a green light.
Numerous area residents lined up to voice their opposition at the hearing. The governments of Virginia and the District of Columbia are seeking an emergency court order to block the construction. They argue the project is illegal. Preservationists and military veterans filed the initial suit earlier this year. They contend the site is improper and that the project requires authorization from Congress.
The final plans submitted to the commission do not mention the military complex Trump previously described. The president said the arch would include drones and snipers for national security. The documents omit any reference to drones, ammunition storage, or sniper positions. This discrepancy is central to the legal dispute between the administration and the opposing jurisdictions.
Virginia and the District of Columbia filed their own action last week. They contend the project defies at least five federal statutes. One law generally limits buildings in the District to a maximum height of 130 feet. The 250-foot arch would exceed that limit almost twice over. The suit argues the location on a busy traffic circle will disrupt operations for both jurisdictions.
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan has asked to be notified after the commission's vote. Opponents filed for an immediate halt to construction to prevent legal gamesmanship. They cited the administration's earlier destruction of the White House East Wing to build a ballroom. They argued that once construction starts, the administration will claim halting it harms national security.
The administration counters that the city and state lack standing to sue. It argues Congress gave the green light about a century ago when it authorized 166-foot-tall columns. Those columns have not yet been built. Attorneys for the city and state called those arguments implausible. They noted the Memorial Bridge Act never mentions an arch.
