By Salma El-Sakka
A key federal panel is expected to give final approval Thursday to President Donald Trump’s proposed 250-foot memorial arch near downtown Washington, a major step for a project that remains tied up in court.
Commission Review and Trump Appointees
The National Capital Planning Commission, which oversees construction on federal land in the capital, began reviewing the arch plan in June. The 12-member panel is chaired by Mark Paoletta, general counsel for the White House Office of Management and Budget, and includes two other White House aides appointed by Trump.
Legal Challenges and Court Order
Three lawsuits have been filed opposing the arch, arguing it is too large for the skyline and would disrupt historic sightlines between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, overseeing one case, has ordered that any commission decision be reported to her within an hour and could rule on a construction block as early as Thursday.
Project Details and Opposition
The administration submitted a 106-page plan last week envisioning a structure more than 12 stories high with a bronze statue of Lady Liberty, observation decks, and interior facilities. Critics say congressional approval is required, while the administration contends Congress authorized a monument at Memorial Circle decades ago. The arch would stand 100 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty without its pedestal and would require significant traffic changes around the Potomac River crossing.
