Trump advances 76‑meter triumphal arch in Washington, sidestepping Congress

The Trump administration is moving forward with a plan to erect a 76‑meter (250‑foot) triumphal arch on Columbia Island’s Memorial Circle in Washington, D.C. Workers have begun surveying and geophysical testing at the site, and the government is seeking permits from two federal commissions that the administration has staffed with allies. Officials argue that congressional approval is unnecessary, citing a 1924 report from the Arlington Memorial Bridge Commission that was later ratified by Congress but never implemented.

Critics say the project violates federal law that requires congressional consent for monuments on protected parkland managed by the National Park Service. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has defended the arch as a fulfillment of a century‑old vision, while legal experts and Democratic lawmakers warn the administration is ignoring established procedures. The controversy centers on whether the administration can lawfully bypass Congress for such a large public monument.