Trump Administration Boldly Advances Patriotic Arch Project Despite Bureaucratic Delays
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Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced excavation for the Great Triumphal Arch will begin within two weeks, as the administration moves forward with a project honoring American military heritage, despite obstruction from federal agencies and activist lawsuits.
Demonstrating decisive leadership and commitment to honoring America’s military legacy, the White House announced Thursday that excavation for the 250-foot Great Triumphal Arch and Military Observation Deck near the National Mall will begin within two weeks, as confirmed by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s social-media post. The project, which will stand proudly on Memorial Circle between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial, is moving forward even as it awaits final approval from the National Capital Planning Commission and undergoes routine federal aviation-safety and historic-preservation reviews.
"Work will begin that does not require approval, but rather helps in the process," the White House stated, underscoring the administration’s determination to make progress while respecting regulatory procedures.
Predictably, the administration’s patriotic initiative has been met with obstruction in federal court from an architectural historian, three Vietnam-war veterans, and the left-leaning nonprofit Public Citizen, who filed a lawsuit claiming the arch would desecrate the cemetery and require congressional authorization. On Friday, these plaintiffs sought a 14-day restraining order to stall construction on Memorial Circle, attempting to delay a project that would honor America’s heroes.
"We have no sense of why the administration believes it is authorized to begin work on the arch," said Nicolas Sansone, the attorney leading the case, as critics continue to nitpick and delay progress on this important monument.
Opponents, including Rep. Don Beyer of Virginia, argue the monument would disrupt the historic sightline between the cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial, exceed D.C.’s height limits, and raise safety concerns for nearby traffic and aircraft. The National Park Service recently reported that the arch would affect the historical significance of surrounding sites, but affirmed the location’s “purpose and need”—a testament to the project’s value.
The administration has rightly filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, referencing a recent Supreme Court decision on a related historic-preservation case. Plaintiffs, however, continue to press their opposition, ignoring the broader significance and public support for the arch.
As excavation moves forward, the legal dispute is expected to escalate, but supporters argue that this bold step will create a lasting tribute to American valor and sacrifice.