Trump’s 250‑Foot Washington Arch Design Approved by Commission of Fine Arts

The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, whose seven members were appointed by President Donald Trump, voted on May 21, 2026 to approve the design for a 250‑foot triumphal arch to be built at Memorial Circle on Columbia Island, between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. The revised plan keeps a torch‑bearing figure, two gilded eagles and gold‑lettered inscriptions reading “One Nation Under God” and “Liberty and Justice for All,” and adds a public observation deck. The commission removed four gold lion sculptures and reduced the overall height by about eight feet, replacing the planned marble exterior with granite.

Public reaction was overwhelmingly negative: roughly 99 % of the more than 600 public comments submitted opposed the project, citing the arch’s domination of the skyline and its interference with historic sightlines. A group of Vietnam‑War veterans and a historian have sued to block construction, arguing that the monument requires congressional authorization on federal land. The administration counters that a 1924 report authorizes the work and says the project will be funded by a mix of private and taxpayer money. The design now awaits further review by the National Capital Planning Commission.