The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts Advances Plan for a 250-Foot Triumphal Arch on Columbia Island

"The Triumphal Arch in Memorial Circle is going to be one of the most iconic landmarks not only in Washington, D.C., but throughout the world." — White House spokesperson Davis Ingle

The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts has voted to advance preliminary plans for a proposed 250-foot triumphal arch on Columbia Island in the Potomac River, situated between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. The project, championed by President Donald Trump, has received preliminary design approval but now faces a federal lawsuit challenging its legality. The commission also reviewed and advanced design concepts for painting the Eisenhower Executive Office Building and constructing an underground visitor screening facility.

Project Details and Design

The proposed structure—referred to as a "triumphal arch" in official documents and a "victory arch" by administration officials—would stand 250 feet (76.2 meters) tall from its base to the tip of a torch held by a central winged figure. According to architectural plans submitted by the firm Harrison Design and lead architect Nicolas Charbonneau, the design includes:

• A winged, crowned figure described as resembling the Statue of Liberty or "Lady Liberty," holding a torch
• Two eagles flanking the central figure
• Four lions at the base of the structure
• Inscriptions reading "One Nation Under God" on one side and "Liberty and Justice For All" on the other
• An elevator-accessible public observation deck

All statues would be gilded, and the structure would be ringed with protective bollards.

At 250 feet, the arch would be taller than the nearby Lincoln Memorial (99 feet) and Paris's Arc de Triomphe (under 50 meters), but shorter than the Washington Monument (555 feet). If built, it would become the tallest triumphal arch in the world, exceeding the Monumento a la Revolución in Mexico City (220 feet) and the Arch of Triumph in Pyongyang, North Korea (197 feet).

Location

The proposed site is a traffic circle on Columbia Island, a man-made strip of land on the Virginia side of the Potomac River. Sources differ on the jurisdiction: some reports state the land is managed by the National Park Service and falls within the boundaries of the District of Columbia, while others place it in Arlington, Virginia. The site is located at one end of the Arlington Memorial Bridge, between the Lincoln Memorial to the east and Arlington National Cemetery to the west.

Statements from Officials

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum stated that Washington is the only major Western capital without such an arch, describing the proposed site as currently a "barren, grass-covered, lonely traffic circle." Burgum noted the design alludes to a more than 100-year-old congressional plan for two 160-foot columns on Columbia Island symbolizing the North and South after the Civil War—which were never built.

President Trump stated on social media that the arch "will be the GREATEST and MOST BEAUTIFUL Triumphal Arch, anywhere in the World" and that it would be "a wonderful addition to the Washington D.C. area for all Americans to enjoy for many decades to come."

President Trump's Statements on Purpose

When asked by CBS News political correspondent Ed O'Keefe in October whom the monument was intended to honor, Trump responded: "Me."

Trump has stated the arch is intended to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence in 2026. Lead architect Nicolas Charbonneau confirmed the 250-foot height references this anniversary. Trump has also argued that Washington D.C. is the only major capital city without its own triumphal arch and noted that the nation's capital first sought such a monument 200 years ago, but plans were interrupted by the Civil War, and a later attempt in 1902 did not proceed.

Funding

According to a spending plan for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) approved by the Office of Management and Budget in September, $2 million in special initiative funds and $13 million in matching funds have been reserved for the arch. The White House stated the estimated total cost is still being calculated and will draw on a combination of public and private funds. A report in October cited an estimate from White House insiders of $100 million.

Commission Review Process

Preliminary Concept Approval

On Thursday, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts reviewed and approved design concepts for three projects: the triumphal arch, a proposal to paint the exterior of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB), and construction of an underground visitor screening facility. This was the first step in the commission's review process. The commission will review updated designs at a future meeting before taking final votes.

The commission is a federal advisory body that provides advice on the design and aesthetics of construction within Washington, D.C. In October, President Trump dismissed all previous members of the commission and appointed seven new members, who are currently serving.

Commissioner Feedback

Commission Vice Chairman James McCrery II, who voted in favor of the preliminary design, suggested removing the figure and eagles from the top of the arch to reduce its height. He objected to the inclusion of lions, stating they are "not a beast natural to the North American continent." McCrery also suggested building a larger doorway and eliminating an underground access tunnel. He described the winged figures as "odd" and recommended reducing the arch's height to approximately 166 feet to better fit Washington's memorial skyline.

Public Comments

According to commission secretary Thomas Luebke, the commission received approximately 1,000 written comments opposing the project. Three of four people who delivered public comment at the meeting also opposed the arch, largely due to its size. One submitted an alternate design.

Among the cited public comments, one critic stated the arch's scale would "assert itself as a dominant vertical element in a skyline that has resisted such intrusions" and noted its close association with a modern political figure.

Legal Challenge

"The arch would obscure the visual connection between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial." — Lawsuit filed by Vietnam War veterans

In February, a group of Vietnam War veterans filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking to block construction. The lawsuit argues the project violates statutes requiring express congressional authorization for commemorative works on federal park grounds in Washington, D.C. The lawsuit also argues the arch would obscure the visual connection between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial. A judge has not yet intervened in the case. The White House has stated it will "follow all legal requirements" in constructing the arch.

Related Projects

The arch proposal is part of several architectural projects pursued by the Trump administration in Washington, D.C., including:

• White House Ballroom: A $400 million neoclassical ballroom on the White House grounds. A federal appeals court temporarily allowed construction to proceed while the administration challenges a ruling that it requires congressional approval.
• White House Rose Garden: Converted into a stone-covered patio.
• Kennedy Center: A proposed two-year shutdown for renovation, opposed by a coalition of groups in a lawsuit.
• Washington Dulles International Airport: Proposed architectural changes through a Department of Transportation initiative.
• Eisenhower Executive Office Building: A proposal to paint the gray granite exterior white. The building is a National Historic Landmark. Public comment was unanimously opposed, and the proposal is subject to federal litigation.
• Federal Architecture: In August, Trump signed an executive order requiring new federal buildings with construction budgets over $50 million to be designed in "classical" or "traditional" styles.