Trump's officials end historic-preservation review to clear the way for his 'Triumphal Arch' near Arlington

From the Newshound archive · first published 26 September 2026.

Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth attacked the planned 250-foot arch near Arlington National Cemetery as "yet another Trump vanity project" on Friday, urging the FAA to block proposals to post snipers on the structure and operate drones from it along a heavily trafficked flight corridor. Travis Voyles, the Trump-appointed vice chairman of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, formally ended the federally required consultation process this week, even though a National Park Service report concluded the arch will cause unavoidable harm to 42 nearby historic properties. Construction is expected to begin this month on the arch, which sits just 4 miles from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, scene of last year's fatal midair collision.

Trump declared the arch will double as a "top grade Military Complex" loaded with drones and snipers, raising fresh legal and safety alarms.

Preservationist Charles Birnbaum said officials are "making up the rules as they go along" and accused the administration of wrapping the project in spurious national security justifications.

Final approval remains pending, but the administration has made clear it intends to proceed regardless of the harm-mitigation objections raised by Washington and Virginia historic preservation officers.