Trump says proposed Washington arch will house military snipers, drones and ammunition
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President Trump announced that his planned 250-foot triumphal arch in Washington, D.C., would be converted into a military complex with sniper positions and drone capabilities, while a federal judge has ordered a pause on any work pending legal review.
President Donald Trump announced on his Truth Social account that his proposed 250-foot triumphal arch near the National Mall will be turned into a "top-grade Military Complex/Triumphal Arch" to protect national security. He said the structure will "house, store, and have the rapid ability to use large numbers of drones, plus Snipers, on both the roof and plaza areas, and additionally have and hold large quantities of sniper ammunition in storage."
The plan has drawn strong opposition from preservationists, veterans groups and an architectural historian, who argue the arch would desecrate nearby Arlington National Cemetery and exceed the president’s authority without congressional approval. More than 100,000 comments have been submitted to the National Park Service during its review.
U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkin issued an order requiring the government to give the court 48 hours’ notice before any activity on Memorial Circle, warning that construction or demolition without final National Park Service authorization would violate the court’s injunction. The order follows a lawsuit filed by Vietnam-war veterans and the historian.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum later posted on X that the administration intended to break ground on the arch within two weeks, despite still awaiting final clearance from the National Capital Planning Commission and other federal reviews.
"At the strong request of the United States Military, and for National Security purposes, I have agreed to convert the magnificent Triumphal Arch... into a top grade Military Complex/Triumphal Arch," Trump wrote.
The proposed structure would be twice the height of the Lincoln Memorial and would be the first triumphal arch in Washington, D.C., according to Trump’s statement.