WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Trump proposed constructing a 250-foot triumphal arch on the Virginia side of the Arlington Memorial Bridge. The Commission of Fine Arts, an independent federal agency advising on monuments and federal buildings, granted final design approval for the proposed arch.

The proposed site for the arch is within a traffic circle situated between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington House. The Lincoln Memorial, on the western edge of the National Mall, aligns with the U.S. Capitol and Washington Monument. Arlington House, the former home of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, is on the grounds of Arlington National Cemetery. The Potomac River serves as the border between the Lincoln Memorial's Washington, D.C. location and Arlington House's Virginia site.

Vietnam War veterans filed a lawsuit regarding the proposed arch, stating it disrespects those buried at Arlington National Cemetery and necessitates congressional authorization. President Trump stated, "We don't need anything from Congress." Architectural historian Alison Hoagland said, "The connection of the Lincoln Memorial, representing Lincoln himself, to the home of the leader of the Confederate Army, Robert E. Lee, was designed to help heal the wounds of the war that tore apart the nation. To disrupt this view would disrupt this reconciliation." The National Capital Planning Commission will conduct a public meeting to review the arch proposal.

A staff report for the commission indicates the agency is expected to approve the project preliminarily. However, federal law mandates historic preservation and environmental reviews, which have not been publicly announced. The commission received approximately 1,700 written comments concerning the arch proposal. Public comments included concerns about vehicle and pedestrian safety, the potential impact on flight paths near Reagan Washington National Airport, the structure's scale, its proximity to the cemetery, and the potential loss of the historic viewline.

Trump described the arch as a celebration of the nation's upcoming 250th anniversary. White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said, "It will enhance the visitor experience at Arlington National Cemetery for veterans, the families of the fallen, and all Americans alike, serving as a visual reminder of the noble sacrifices borne by so many American heroes throughout our 250 year history so we can enjoy our freedoms today." The Arlington Memorial Bridge opened to traffic in 1932.