Donald Trump has recast his proposed 250-foot triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery as a military installation, saying Sunday that the monument will be redesigned to house drones, deploy snipers and store ammunition in the name of national security.
Trump said the change came at the “strong request” of the U.S. military, but neither the Pentagon nor the White House provided details about the military’s alleged request or released revised plans showing how the monument would function as a military facility.
The Pentagon said it had nothing to add beyond Trump’s social media post. The White House also declined to provide additional information.
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Trump said the structure would have the “rapid ability to use large numbers of drones,” with sniper positions on its roof and plaza and “large quantities of sniper ammunition” stored inside.
He did not explain what military threats the facility would address, how the drones would be operated or why the proposed location would be necessary for those capabilities.
The announcement comes as the administration prepares for construction of the arch, which would stand at Memorial Circle on Columbia Island at the western end of Arlington Memorial Bridge. The site is near Arlington National Cemetery and roughly 3,000 feet from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Project Has Preliminary Approval
The proposed arch has cleared several regulatory hurdles, but it has not received all final approvals.
The National Capital Planning Commission approved preliminary site and building plans in July, while explicitly requiring additional information before final review. Commissioners requested further details about transportation impacts, the structure’s height, aviation safety and other elements of the project.
The Commission’s July action approved the preliminary plans for a 250-foot structure but said comments still needed to be addressed before final review.
The Federal Aviation Administration separately determined that the proposed arch would not pose a hazard to aircraft, subject to safety measures including a conspicuous illuminated feature atop the structure. The FAA noted the site’s proximity to Reagan National Airport and the aircraft approach and departure corridor.
The administration has said excavation could begin soon. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced Sept. 3 that preparations were underway for excavation over a two-week period. A federal judge has ordered the administration to provide 48 hours’ notice before beginning activity at the site, with an exception for work to identify archaeological resources.
Veterans, Preservationists Challenge Project
The arch has faced legal opposition from veterans and an architectural historian, who argue that the administration cannot proceed without congressional authorization. The plaintiffs have also raised concerns about the monument’s effect on the historic landscape and views between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
The revised military purpose could add another dimension to the legal dispute because the administration is now describing the structure not solely as a monument but as a facility with military and national security functions.
Trump has not released a new architectural rendering or construction plan showing how the military facilities would be incorporated into the monument. It is therefore unclear whether the proposed military uses would require changes to the plans previously reviewed by federal planning authorities.
Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., whose district includes Arlington National Cemetery and the proposed site, criticized the proposal, saying placing a drone-launching facility near the airport would create safety concerns.
Another Trump Project With a National Security Rationale
The arch is the second major Washington-area construction project in which the Trump administration has invoked national security as part of its justification.
The administration has similarly described the planned White House ballroom and an underground facility beneath it as part of an integrated military complex. Trump had initially promoted the roughly $400 million ballroom as a venue for large official events before the administration emphasized its security functions in litigation.
The ballroom project also faced a legal challenge from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Supreme Court allowed construction to continue by staying a lower-court injunction while the litigation proceeds; the court did not issue a final ruling resolving the underlying dispute.
The administration argued in court that the White House project was necessary for the safety and security of Trump and the White House grounds.
Trump’s latest announcement extends that national security rationale to a monument that had previously been presented primarily as a commemorative structure.
A Changing Vision for Washington
Trump has made reshaping Washington a major priority of his second term, pursuing projects that include the proposed arch, the White House ballroom, renovations to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and other changes to federal landmarks.
The proposed arch was originally presented as a monumental addition to the capital marking the nation’s 250th anniversary. Federal planning documents describe its purpose as celebrating the American people, inspiring patriotism and beautifying the nation’s capital.
Trump’s new description adds a substantially different function.
For now, however, the precise scope of the military component remains unknown. No revised plans have been made public, and the Pentagon has provided no information beyond Trump’s description.
