Donald Trump said on Sunday that his planned 250-foot triumphal arch near Washington will be converted into a "top grade" military complex able to host drones and snipers and store ammunition. In a Truth Social post, Trump said he was updating the plans at the "strong request" of the US military and for "national security purposes". He did not provide details on construction plans or timing, and it is not clear whether he needs further approval for the facility, the BBC reported.
What would the complex include? The structure would "house, store, and have the rapid ability to use large numbers of drones, plus Snipers, on both the roof and plaza areas," and hold "large quantities of sniper ammunition in storage," Trump said. A rendering from earlier this year shows a golden, winged Lady Liberty atop the arch, flanked by two gold eagles, and at 250 feet the structure would dwarf the 99-foot Lincoln Memorial nearby, the BBC reported. The Pentagon offered no details beyond the president's statement.
Who is challenging the project? A group of three veterans and an architectural historian has sued, saying the project needs to be approved by Congress, PBS NewsHour reported. The arch has received early approval from the US Commission of Fine Arts, whose members were all appointed by Trump. Nicolas Sansone, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said on Sunday that the president's "belated efforts to manufacture a national security justification for this project do nothing to cure its fundamental illegality."
How have lawmakers responded? Rep. Mike Simpson, an Idaho Republican and senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, said on Monday that Pentagon funding should not be used to build the arch, telling reporters "there's a lot of things that we need the military funding for," The Hill reported. Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Maryland Democrat, attacked the arch and pressed for statehood for Washington, DC. Rep. Don Beyer, the Virginia Democrat who represents the area, said in a post on X quoted by PBS NewsHour that "putting a drone launching site directly in the landing path for DCA is a stupid, dangerous, and unworkable idea."
What approvals remain? The National Capital Planning Commission, which approved the site and preliminary plans at its July meeting, has not given final approval and is expected to take up the matter again this fall, PBS NewsHour reported. Groundbreaking had been expected this month.
Figures referenced: Donald Trump. — JudgeMarket.
