Interior preparing to start work on Trump's arch 'over the next two-week period'

President Donald Trump plans to inaugurate the construction of his massive 250-foot-tall arch within the next two weeks, according to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. The monument, which will be situated in a traffic circle at the entrance of the Memorial Bridge over the Potomac River, nestled between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington Cemetery, has sparked controversy due to concerns about the design and potential traffic disruptions during the construction process.

Burgum announced that excavation work would commence in the forthcoming two-week span, marking a long-awaited beginning after over a century of anticipation. The arch, among Trump's most prominent projects as the administration aims to revamp Washington, will stand as one of the most visible landmarks in the city.

Critics, however, have raised worries that the structure may prove too grand, potentially overshadowing other monuments such as the Lincoln Memorial. With a height of 250 feet, the arch would be significantly larger than the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. It remains uncertain at this point what the construction costs will be, but the National Endowment for the Humanities has allocated $15 million towards the monument.

Burgum emphasized that the arch will be a great piece of American architecture, honoring the history and significance of Arlington National Cemetery and befitting the most powerful capital in the world. The monument will be constructed on land managed by the National Park Service, a point that critics have argued requires explicit congressional approval.

Nonetheless, Burgum dismissed these claims, asserting that historically, Congress and various congressionally chartered commissions had deemed a monumental work worthy of adornment at the proposed site - Columbia Island. Despite Congress's intent, the area has remained an underutilized traffic circle lacking any monumental treatment and possessing significant historic value.