WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump proposed building a 250-foot triumphal arch near the Lincoln Memorial to commemorate the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. The arch would be located in Memorial Circle, across the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial, on the Virginia side of the river within the District of Columbia boundary.
The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts approved the design of the arch. Will Scharf, who previously served as Trump's White House staff secretary, heads the commission, which oversees design but has no authority over construction or funding for projects it reviews. Federal law restricts most construction in Washington to a maximum height of 130 feet, making the proposed arch more than twice the height of the 99-foot Lincoln Memorial and approximately 30 feet taller than the Plaza de la República in Mexico City.
The National Park Service released a preliminary assessment recommending a construction schedule of 20 hours per day, year-round, for two to three years. Construction would occur in two 10-hour shifts per day and modify vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic on the Arlington Memorial Bridge and Arlington Boulevard. Westbound traffic on the Arlington Memorial Bridge would be reduced from three lanes to two during construction. The agency stated that construction would require tower cranes up to 320 feet tall, forklifts, concrete pump systems, skid steers, and drill rigs. The arch would be constructed from concrete and finished with granite.
The Federal Aviation Administration is conducting a full aeronautical study of the arch in coordination with the agency. The FAA determined that the structure would not adversely impact operations at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Donnell Evans, an FAA spokesman, said the top of the structure would require red obstruction lights.
The National Capital Planning Commission voted on June 4 to request more information from the Interior Department regarding the arch project. The commission asked for additional details on the arch's height, lighting, storm water management, and visitor traffic regulation. Preliminary surveys and testing of the arch site began in May 2026. The public comment period for the project closes on June 15, 2026.
The administration expects a combination of taxpayer and private funds to pay for the arch. A group of veterans and a historian filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration to block the project. "Your disregard for legal process and public interest has been apparent in projects ranging from the construction of a White House Ballroom and triumphal arc to the resealing of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool." said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, U.S. Senator from Connecticut.