The Trump administration has announced plans to construct a 250-foot-tall "Triumphal Arch" near Arlington National Cemetery, with a projected completion timeline of two to three years. According to National Park Service documents reviewed by USA TODAY, the structure, dubbed the "Arc de Trump," will be a reinforced concrete monument clad in granite, featuring a central winged figure and two eagles.
It will be built on Memorial Circle in Arlington, Virginia, a location adjacent to the cemetery and the Arlington Memorial Bridge, which connects the Lincoln Memorial to the cemetery where over 400,000 service members and their families are buried.
The arch will include three levels: a ground floor for security screening, a mezzanine with restrooms and potentially a café and gift shop, and an observation deck with an exterior viewing area. The administration has set an aggressive construction schedule, with work planned year-round, 20 hours a day, using 10-hour shifts.
The project will involve tower cranes, forklifts, and concrete pumping systems, and will be completed in seven phases: site excavation, foundation work, structural concrete, cladding, statue placement, landscaping, and site restoration.
Traffic impacts are expected, with short-term closures and detours. The construction site will cover approximately 45,000 square feet south of the arch, with an additional 80,000 square feet for parking and staging.
About 20 to 30 construction trucks will make 80 to 100 trips daily. The National Park Service plans to install traffic signals around Memorial Circle.
Once completed, visitors will access the site via a timed-entry system similar to the Washington Monument, with tickets available online or on-site.
The project has faced opposition. In February, four veterans—Michael Lemmon, Shaun Byrnes, Jon Gundersen, and Calder Loth—filed a lawsuit claiming the arch violates the Commemorative Works Act of 1986, which requires congressional approval for monuments in Washington, D.C.
The lawsuit argues that the arch would disrupt historic views between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington House, pose a hazard to air traffic at Reagan National Airport, and obstruct funeral processions that use Memorial Circle. The Department of the Interior defended the project, stating it will enhance the visitor experience and honor the sacrifices of American heroes.
President Donald Trump first announced the arch last year to commemorate the nation's 250th anniversary. The project remains controversial, with legal challenges ongoing.