LOS ANGELES, California, September 4, 2026 — Federal officials will soon break ground on Trump’s triumphal arch In a post to social media, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum laid out the excavation schedule Thursday. The 250-foot structure would be located in close proximity to the Lincoln Memorial across the Potomac River.
This announcement has been made even though the federal approvals aren’t finalized and there is an ongoing lawsuit. The project is more than 125 years in the making, officials say. Critics say the administration is moving too quickly before a necessary review process.
A Long-Delayed Vision Moves Forward
The project, which Burgum said has been a “long wait,” is now being built. The arch would be located close to Memorial Circle, where it could mark the country’s 250th anniversary. Trump has also pledged to make it “the biggest one ever”.
The design details remain unresolved ahead of excavation. The White House official, speaking to reporters, said the final design and height “is not finalized.” The National Park Service, which manages monuments in the capital region, tracks the full project background.
It is one of a handful of Trump-supported adjustments, reshaping the monuments that ring the capital. Additional projects include a new White House ballroom and renovations to the Kennedy Center. Authorities are also looking to change the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool ahead of anniversary events.
Legal Fight Still Unresolved
Three Vietnam War veterans and an architectural historian filed the lawsuit to prevent construction. The arch, they contend, would block views between Arlington House and the Lincoln Memorial. Trump also allegedly avoided getting congressional approval necessary for commemorative works, the suit says.
Michael Lemmon, an Army veteran and lead plaintiff in the lawsuit said the project “is a slap in the face to everyone who has served.” The plaintiffs, in turn, lack standing to sue, the Justice Department has argued. PACER, the federal judiciary’s public records system for court filings.
Aviation and Preservation Warnings
A National Park Service report indicated that the arch would have “adverse” impacts on dozens of historic landmarks. The structure would be more than twice as tall as the Lincoln Memorial itself. It would also be almost half as tall as the Washington Monument.
The height issue isn’t above preservation only. The arch is near a flight path of planes that come in as low as 492 feet. The Federal Aviation Administration is responsible for reviewing obstacles in proximity to runways and develops federal aviation safety standards.
Approvals Still Incomplete
Final design approval came from the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts in May. Approvals to date The National Capital Planning Commission has only issued preliminary approval. The first opportunity for that agency to approve the final results is Oct. 1.
Architectural historian Bryan Clark Green is cautious about the size of the arch. “I think this is way too big,” he told reporters following the project. Once construction begins, it’s expected to take about two to three years, with 20-hour-a-day work.
That time scale would put the project in jeopardy as Trump’s second term winds down. They say the faster timeline reflects the project’s symbolic significance to the anniversary. Opponents say the accelerated timeline is a ploy to beat a mounting legal and regulatory battle.
The Justice Department has indicated that it does not anticipate the lawsuit will stop excavation. Officials say the plaintiffs’ worries about sightlines do not constitute legal standing. The standing question and the underlying claims have not yet been ruled upon by the federal judge.
The independent federal agency on historic preservation advice is the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation for standards involving federal landmarks. The council reviews work affecting properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places. To date, it has not reflected a formal position on the arch project.
