Administration officials announced Thursday that excavation work will begin within the next two weeks for President Donald Trump’s planned 250-foot-tall triumphal arch in Washington, D.C. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum shared the update on X, stating the project will be one of the Great Pieces of American Architecture
and is befitting the most powerful Capital in the World
.
Project Details and Design
The proposed memorial arch will be located between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial. According to artistic mockups posted by Burgum, the structure will be white with gold detailing and the words ONE NATION UNDER GOD
. The design includes gold eagles with spread wings and a gold, winged figure holding a torch, similar to Lady Liberty, atop the arch.
The arch is part of a broader effort by the president to leave a lasting imprint on the city. Other planned projects include refurbishing the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool, building a new White House ballroom, renaming and renovating the Kennedy Center, and rebuilding a golf course in East Potomac Park, which could reduce public access to biking and running paths.
Legal and Environmental Challenges
The project faces a lawsuit brought by an architectural historian and three veterans. Attorney Nicolas Sansone of the Public Citizen Litigation Group, representing the plaintiffs, argues that the project lacks necessary congressional authorization. The Department of Justice filed a document on Thursday arguing the lawsuit should be dismissed.
A National Park Service report released Friday supported the project, although it noted that the arch would cause adverse effects to sightlines between iconic landmarks and disrupt the historical significance of dozens of nearby sites. Burgum defended the construction on X, arguing that the site is currently a barren traffic circle
and that the U.S. will now have the most spectacular and beautiful arch
of the more than 70 cities worldwide that have such monuments.
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