Justice Department: Trump's Proposed 250ft Arch Would Be Finished After His Term Ends
The US Justice Department said President Donald Trump's planned triumphal arch near Washington would only be completed after his second term ends. The project still faces lawsuits from Virginia, the District of Columbia and veterans.
The US Justice Department said on Tuesday that President Donald Trump's proposed 250ft (76 metre) triumphal arch would not be finished before his second term in office ends. The statement came in court proceedings where the start of construction is being challenged.
The arch, modelled on Paris's Arc de Triomphe, is planned for a site near Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, just across the Potomac River from Washington.
Construction timeline
If approved, the first six to eight months would involve excavation and foundation work, which could begin as soon as Thursday. Above-ground construction would start in May 2027 at the earliest, and total construction is expected to last 33 to 39 months.
The National Capital Planning Commission is due to meet on Thursday to approve the project. The Department of the Interior said in a court filing that it may issue its final approval the same day, and the National Park Service may also issue a permit or other authorisation.
Opposition in court
The state of Virginia and the District of Columbia sued the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior on Saturday, seeking to stop construction from starting. They called the project "legally indefensible" and argued Congress had not approved it. Several veterans have also sued, arguing the arch would ruin the historic sightline between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
The government has urged US judge Tanya Chutkan in the District of Columbia to reject the bid to halt construction. It argued the arch's location and height could help defend the capital against evolving threats such as drones.
Others have raised concerns about the arch's closeness to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and its position within the airport's main approach and departure corridors. The Federal Aviation Administration found that the arch poses no aviation safety risks. It said the structure will feature an eternal flame and floodlight projectors to make it visible to pilots.
The arch is part of Trump's wider effort to reshape Washington, which also includes renovating the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool, redeveloping a golf course in East Potomac Park and adding his name to the US Institute of Peace.
