The Federal Aviation Administration has cleared Donald Trump’s proposed 250ft triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery, finding that it would not endanger aircraft, but has ordered designers to add an eternal flame and continuous lighting to make the structure more visible to pilots.
The FAA issued its determination on Friday after examining airspace, traffic patterns and flight procedures around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, as well as operations at nearby military and public-use airfields.
The arch is planned for Memorial Circle on Columbia Island, between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, less than two miles north-west of the airport. If built, it would be more than twice the height of the Lincoln Memorial.
FAA approves Trump’s triumphal arch design conditions
The agency said its finding was subject to conditions requiring a “non-standard” eternal flame at the top of the structure and floodlight projectors directed towards the arch.
The measures are intended to ensure that pilots can identify the monument against the Washington skyline, particularly given its proximity to one of the busiest airports in the capital region.
The FAA’s decision does not itself authorise construction. The agency says its obstruction findings are recommendations, while responsibility for building permits and land-use approval rests with the relevant authorities.
The project has already received approval from the Commission of Fine Arts and preliminary approval from the National Capital Planning Commission. However, final planning decisions and legal challenges remain outstanding.
Legal challenge threatens construction timetable
Veterans and preservationists have brought a lawsuit arguing that the administration lacks authority to build the arch without approval from Congress. They also say the monument would damage the historic view between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington House and diminish the solemn setting of the nearby cemetery.
A federal judge has ordered the administration to give advance notice before carrying out work at the site. The ruling permits limited archaeological investigation, but requires at least 48 hours’ notice of activity and reiterates an earlier requirement for 14 days’ notice before construction or demolition begins.
Government lawyers have said excavation could include four test pits to establish whether archaeological material lies beneath the site. Officials have previously indicated that work could begin in the coming weeks, although opponents can petition the FAA’s determination until October 18.
If a petition is filed, the FAA finding will not become final until that challenge has been resolved.
