Triumphal Arch would not be completed until Trump leaves office, DOJ says

The US Justice Department has declared that President Donald Trump's planned 250-foot triumphal arch in Washington will not be finished until after his second term concludes. Construction, if authorized, would commence with excavation and foundation work starting as early as Thursday and concluding with above-ground work beginning in May 2027 at the earliest.

The project, inspired by Paris' Arc de Triomphe, is envisioned near Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. The National Capital Planning Commission is set to vote on the proposal Thursday, with the Department of the Interior potentially making a final decision on the same day. The National Park Service may also issue a permit.

However, the arch has encountered considerable legal challenges. Virginia and the District of Columbia have filed lawsuits against the National Park Service and Department of the Interior to halt construction, contending it is legally indefensible and that Congress has not approved it. Several veterans have also filed suits, arguing that the arch would disrupt the historic sightline between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.

The government has urged US District Judge Tanya Chutkan to reject these legal challenges, arguing that the arch's location and height could be utilized to protect the capital from potential threats such as drones. The Federal Aviation Administration has concluded that the arch does not pose any aviation safety risks, stating that it will incorporate an eternal flame and floodlight projects aimed at making it visible to pilots.