The National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) voted on Thursday to grant preliminary approval for President Donald Trump's proposed 250-foot (76-meter) triumphal arch on a traffic circle at the Virginia end of the Memorial Bridge in Washington, D.C. The decision moves the skyline-altering project closer to reality, despite overwhelming public opposition and unresolved questions about federal height restrictions.
Commission Vote and Height Law Debate
The commission voted 8-1 in favor of preliminary approval, with three commissioners voting present. Chair Will Scharf, along with two other Trump appointees, supported the motion. However, the commission deferred a decision on whether the Height of Buildings Act, a federal law limiting building heights, applies to the project. The NCPC staff had recommended approval with changes to comply with the act, including redistributing heights among the arch's main structure, habitable roof (which includes an observation deck), and statues. Scharf noted that the Interior Department, the applicant, provided a legal analysis making a "compelling argument" that the law is not binding on the federal government. The Interior Department oversees the federal land where the arch would be built.
Public Opposition and Concerns
During the meeting, commissioners heard from several dozen people who testified against the project. Opponents argued that the arch is too large and would disrupt the carefully designed view between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, a vista symbolizing the reunification of the North and South after the Civil War. The arch, at 250 feet, would be more than twice the height of the Lincoln Memorial (99 feet) and nearly half the height of the Washington Monument (555 feet). Concerns were also raised about vehicular traffic, pedestrian safety, and the appropriateness of building a celebratory arch so close to Arlington National Cemetery. Some suggested alternative locations near the Capitol or sporting venues. Others insisted that Congress must approve the arch, a position Trump disputes.
Project Background and Funding
The US Commission of Fine Arts approved the arch's design in May. The NCPC began reviewing the plan in June. Trump has stated that the arch could be funded with unused money from the hundreds of millions of dollars he claims to have raised from corporations, donors, and wealthy individuals for a new $400 million ballroom at the White House. However, some public funds will be used for both projects. The White House has not released a cost estimate for the arch. As the NCPC met, construction continued at the White House on the ballroom, and crews draped tarps over stone columns at the north entrance for paint removal.
Next Steps
Scharf indicated that a vote on final approval could occur at the NCPC's next meeting in September. The commission will continue deliberations on the applicability of the Height of Buildings Act. The project remains controversial, with critics arguing it symbolizes presidential overreach and disrupts the historic landscape.
