The Trump administration is preparing to begin construction within weeks on a 250-foot "Triumphal Arch" near Arlington National Cemetery, despite a federal lawsuit and objections from veterans and preservationists seeking to block the project. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has promoted the gilded design as a landmark piece of American architecture, but critics argue the administration bypassed Congress and threatens the historic sightlines around some of Washington DC's most significant monuments.

The arch, proposed by Donald Trump earlier this year for a site between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, has yet to receive formal approval from a DC planning commission, and a federal judge has ordered the administration to give the court two weeks' notice before starting work, which it does not appear to have done. The Federal Aviation Administration is still reviewing the structure, as required for buildings over 200 feet, while a National Park Service report found the arch could harm the historical character of nearby monuments, though it stopped short of recommending relocation. Democratic Congressman Don Beyer, whose district includes the cemetery, said his party would seek to halt the project if it wins control of the House in November.