Trump Admin Halts Historic Arch Review for DC "Military Complex"
Trump Admin Halts Historic Arch Review for DC "Military Complex"
Controversial "triumphal" arch project by Trump faces backlash as federal review is abruptly cut short. Preservationists warn of irreversible harm to historic DC sites and views.
Donald Trump's administration has abruptly terminated a federally required review process for his proposed 250-foot "triumphal" arch in Washington, D.C., a move that has drawn strong criticism from preservationists and local advocacy groups. This decision comes despite a recent report from the National Park Service acknowledging that the massive monument would "unavoidably create adverse effects" and harm historic sites within the nation's capital.
The proposed arch, which the former president claims will also function as a "military complex" housing "large numbers of drones, plus Snipers," was undergoing a crucial review by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. However, Travis Voyles, the vice chairman of the council and a Trump appointee, informed local governments and advocacy groups via letter that further consultation would cease.
Critics argue this decision bypasses necessary oversight and pushes the project forward without adequate consideration for its impact.
Charles Birnbaum, president of the Cultural Landscape Foundation, expressed concern, stating, "They seem to be making up the rules as they go along." He further noted that the administration appears to be wrapping the project in "national security" justifications, a tactic he claims has been used before for other personal projects. The advisory council is expected to forward its recommendations to Trump's Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, whose agency is overseeing the plans.
The project's placement is particularly contentious. It is slated for an axis between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, a location that would obstruct a century-old horizon line symbolic of U.S. unification post-Civil War.
An August assessment revealed that the arch would impact 42 historic properties and "adversely affect several National Mall and monumental-core resources," including views of the Washington Monument, Arlington House, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Capitol dome.
The termination of this review process clears a significant hurdle for the project, which now awaits final approval from a federal commission reportedly populated with Trump allies. If approved, construction could commence as early as this fall, fundamentally altering the historic landscape and iconic views of Washington, D.C.
