Washington arch poised for final approval by federal board

President Donald Trump's proposed 250-foot triumphal arch in Washington could win federal approval as soon as Thursday. The National Capital Planning Commission is scheduled to hold a meeting at 1 p.m. ET on Thursday to vote on the project after hearing testimony from dozens of opponents, including Democratic lawmakers.

A federal judge is currently weighing a legal bid to block construction while the National Park Service prepares to issue necessary permits and launch excavation work this week. The Justice Department indicated that initial foundation work would take six to eight months if the project receives a green light. Above-ground building activity would then begin in May 2027 at the earliest, with total completion expected within 33 to 39 months.

The legal battle involves multiple government entities. The state of Virginia and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit on Saturday against the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior to halt construction. Plaintiffs called the plan legally indefensible and argued that Congress never approved the structure, while government attorneys counter that authorization was granted over a century ago alongside a Potomac River bridge project.

The arch is part of a broader federal push that includes rebuilding the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, constructing a White House ballroom, and overhauling the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. President Trump said at an event on Monday that the structure will function as a military asset capable of housing drones and snipers. Local officials and historic preservationists have strongly opposed the plan, citing adverse effects on nearby historic sites.

A review released by the National Park Service in August acknowledged that the arch would cause adverse effects on as many as 42 historic sites. The most serious impacts are expected to concentrate on six locations near the structure.