Plans for President Donald Trump’s proposed 250-foot Triumphal Arch in Virginia appear to be progressing after a federal advisory council ended consultations over its potential impact on nearby historic sites. The project has faced growing opposition, with critics describing it as a vanity project and raising safety concerns about its proposed military uses near Arlington National Cemetery and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

The arch would be about 72 metres tall and within roughly 6km of the airport, where a fatal mid-air collision occurred in 2025. The Federal Aviation Administration has ruled that it would not endanger flights, but Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth has urged officials to reject plans for snipers and drones to operate from the structure. The advisory council said consultations broke down over disagreements concerning harm to 42 historic properties, while Congressman Don Beyer alleged excavation work had begun without the required 48 hours’ notice.