A key federal committee approved plans Thursday for the construction of a monumental arch in Washington, D.C., giving the green light to a major project that is party of the White House’s America 250 celebrations.
The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) met and discussed the revised proposal for a “Triumphal Arch” intended for Memorial Circle near the Arlington Memorial Bridge in downtown D.C. The project faces approval from the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) on June 4, The Washington Post revealed on Thursday.
The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts is a 7-member body of experts in architecture, urban planning, and fine arts that advises the government on design plans for monuments and other federal buildings. Established by Congress in 1910, the commission’s members are appointed by the president and serve a term of four years. (RELATED: Trump Announces He’s Closing Kennedy Center For 2 Years)
President Donald Trump first officially proposed the arch in October 2025, when he displayed models of the design at a White House donor dinner. Since then, the project has undergone considerable inspection and revision by architects and various officials. The “Triumphal Arch” is intended to celebrate the 250th anniversary of America’s founding, along with other temporary structural projects.
Any monument built on federal grounds must be reviewed on historical and environmental grounds and must also receive approval from the CFA and the NCPC. Congressional approval for large projects may also be needed for authorization and funding.
Architects aim to complete the estimated $15 million project by July 2028. (RELATED: Rededicate 250 Puts Christian Revival On Full Display, And Gen Z Came Out In Droves)
The construction plans detail a 250-foot arch made of granite, topped by a 24-carat gold-plated statue of Lady Liberty and two eagles. The arch’s height will make it the second-tallest structure in the D.C. skyline, second only to the Washington National Monument.
An image and model of President Donald Trump’s proposed triumphal arch to commemorate the country’s 250th anniversary are displayed during a public meeting of the Commission of Fine Arts at the National Building Museum on April 16, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
The phrases “Liberty And Justice For All” and “One Nation Under God” are intended to be inscribed on either side of the arch, which is modeled after the Paris Arc de Triomphe, The Post reported.
After the CFA approved early plans for the arch in April, members requested that Nicolas Charbonneau, the primary architect for the firm leading the project, make some adjustments. The Thursday meeting removed plans for an 8-foot base and four gold lions on each corner of the monument on the grounds that the animal is not “native” to the U.S, according to a report from CNN.
Commission member James C. McCrery, II—who was originally hired by Trump as the architect for the White House ballroom—suggested in April that the three gold statues mounting the arch be removed, lowering the monument’s height to 166 feet. The White House did not accept McCrery’s suggestion.
Public perceptions of the arch have been mixed. The CFA received roughly 600 public comments prior to the Thursday meeting, according to The Post. Around 99 percent of them were unfavorable towards the project, the commission’s secretary noted to the members.
Critics of the project cite concerns over the arch’s scale, cost, purpose, legality, and its potential interference with air traffic.
A group of U.S. Vietnam veterans is suing the Trump administration over the construction of the arch, claiming that the ‘Arch de Trump’ will obstruct the view of the Arlington National Cemetery and disrupt the symbolic link between the Lincoln Memorial and the cemetery, connected by the bridge.
Interior Secretary Doug Bergman told the commission in April that the arch is meant to enhance the spot’s significance and “enrich Washington’s historic fabric.”
“Great nations build beautiful structures and works of art that cultivate national pride and love of country,” he added, noting that the arch would celebrate “American freedom, American unity, American strength and the American dream.”
The Post noted that CFA Chairman Rodney Mims Cook Jr. praised the arch Thursday as a “very elegant building.”
While Democrats are demanding Congressional approval for the project, Trump has claimed that such authorization is not needed, citing Congressional approval given in 1924 for similar plans.
The White House had no additional comment. The CFA did not reply to the Daily Caller’s request for comment.