Trending Now - Controversial Trump Arch Project Starts Survey Work in D.C.
WHO:
ABC News - President Donald Trump is seeking the proposed Triumphal Arch.
AP News - A group of veterans and a historian have sued in federal court to block construction of the arch.
ABC News - Nicolas Sansone is a lawyer with the Public Citizen Litigation Group representing the plaintiffs.
WHAT:
CNN - The Department of Interior has requested a formal aeronautical study from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the proposed 250-foot arch, which will be 279 feet tall when considering the site elevation.
CNN - The FAA aims to complete its review of the arch within 45 to 90 days, but such reviews typically take up to nine months.
CNN - The FAA will issue a “Determination of No Hazard” or a “Determination of Hazard” regarding the arch's impact on airspace.
CNN - The National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) stated it does not yet have a specific timeline for the review of the arch.
ABC News - Workers have begun preliminary surveys and testing for the proposed Triumphal Arch.
AP News - The proposed arch is 250 feet tall (76 meters).
ABC News - The arch design has received early approval from the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts.
ABC News - The phrases “One Nation Under God” and “Liberty and Justice for All” would be inscribed in gold lettering atop either side of the monument.
AP News - The survey work consists of "surveys and geotechnical testing" to assist the National Park Service in completing procedural prerequisites.
WHERE:
ABC News - The proposed site of the Triumphal Arch is located between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
AP News - The site was fenced off and marked with pink flags typically used for survey markings.
WHEN:
CNN - The NCPC received a revised concept for the arch for review at its meeting on May 21.
ABC News - The survey work began on a Monday.
ABC News - The work was announced in a court filing on a Thursday.
WHY:
CNN - Concerns have been raised about the arch's size and its impact on the surrounding area, as well as the speed with which Trump promised to build it.
ABC News - The lawsuit claims the arch would disrupt the sightline between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington House at Arlington National Cemetery.
AP News - The plaintiffs argue that the project is unlawful unless Congress passes a law authorizing the arch.
HOW:
ABC News - The survey work is being conducted to generate information for the National Park Service's decision-making process.
AP News - The court filing stated that the National Park Service had not issued a final agency action authorizing construction and would provide at least 14 days notice before any work could begin.
(UPDATED May 12, 2026 23:23 UTC)
The Department of Interior has requested a formal aeronautical study from the Federal Aviation Administration for a proposed arch that will stand 250 feet tall, reaching 279 feet when factoring in the site elevation. The FAA plans to complete its review within 45 to 90 days, although such evaluations can often take up to nine months, and they will determine whether the arch poses a hazard to airspace. Meanwhile, the National Capital Planning Commission will review a revised concept for the arch at its meeting on May 21, amid concerns about its size and the rapid timeline promised by Trump for its construction.
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(UPDATED May 12, 2026 13:33 UTC)
President Trump is pushing forward with plans for a proposed Triumphal Arch, which would stand 250 feet tall between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. However, a group of veterans and a historian have filed a lawsuit in federal court to block the construction, arguing that it would disrupt the sightline between the two historic sites and claiming the project is unlawful without congressional approval. Preliminary surveys and geotechnical testing have already begun at the site, but the National Park Service has not yet authorized construction and will provide at least 14 days notice before any work can commence.