Veterans Oppose Trump’s Triumphal Arch Near Arlington National Cemetery
A group of veterans is intensifying efforts to block President Donald Trump’s plan for a 250-foot triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery. Excavation work at the site is scheduled to start in less than two weeks. The arch is part of several construction projects proposed by the Trump administration to enhance parts of Washington. Trump stated that this particular arch is aimed at honoring veterans.
Concerns About the Arch
Democratic veterans group VoteVets released a video featuring veterans and Gold Star families who are worried about the impact of the project on Arlington National Cemetery. The organization stated their position clearly: “This isn’t about politics. It’s about letting a burial ground stay a burial ground.”
“We don’t need tourists overlooking funerals. I’m just appalled,” one veteran expressed concern over planned observation decks.
Retired Army Major General Paul Eaton, whose father is buried at Arlington, criticized the arch’s placement. He stated that it could disrupt the view from the Lincoln Memorial to the cemetery and called it “entirely inappropriate.”
Progress on Construction
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced on September 3 that excavation work on the Great Triumphal Arch and Military Observation Deck would start within two weeks at Memorial Circle. Burgum praised the project, emphasizing its importance in honoring Arlington Cemetery’s historical significance.
Legal Challenges
On September 4, Vietnam War veterans and an architectural historian filed for an emergency court order to halt the arch’s construction. They argued that the administration lacks congressional approval for the project. They claimed the construction would destroy visual and symbolic connections between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington House, affecting their visits.
Democratic Representative Chellie Pingree urged House Speaker Mike Johnson to sue the administration to block construction. She noted Congress had not approved funding or authority under the Commemorative Works Act.
Trump’s Response
In April, Trump dismissed concerns about the lawsuit and argued the arch was intended to honor veterans. He pointed out it was part of efforts to restore “glamour,” “prestige,” and “beauty” to the nation. Trump mentioned plans to create a structure larger than Paris’s Arc de Triomphe, emphasizing the monument’s significance.
Proposed Location and Design
The arch is set to be located at Memorial Circle on Columbia Island, nearby the main entrance of Arlington National Cemetery. It will not be inside the cemetery. The monumental gateway will celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence. Concerns were raised by Charles Birnbaum, CEO of the Cultural Landscape Foundation, about how the structure would impact the area’s revered atmosphere.
“It will alter that hallowed ground and that feeling and association that everyone has when they experience the cemetery,” Birnbaum stated.
The project could involve construction lasting up to 20 hours a day over three years, during which Arlington holds burials every weekday. Public opinion was requested before the end of September, ahead of a potential National Capital Planning Commission vote, which had given preliminary approval in July.