Federal panel eyes arch approval
Judge sets one-hour deadline for commission decision amid active litigation over the 250-foot monument.
By Peter Graham ·
The National Capital Planning Commission is set to vote Thursday on a 250-foot memorial arch in Washington, D.C.
Chairman Mark Paoletta opened the hearing by praising President Donald Trump for pursuing a monument designated by a 1925 law. Paoletta, who also serves as general counsel for the White House Office of Management and Budget, called the delay in building the arch a national disgrace. He noted that great cities worldwide, including Paris and Rome, feature such structures.
The proposed structure stands 250 feet tall and will be 100 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty without its pedestal. A 106-page plan submitted last week describes a bronze statue of Lady Liberty with wings and a torch. The design includes an observation deck, mezzanines, offices, and a fire command center. Officials say the arch will also serve a national security function and require traffic rerouting in the area.
Opponents argue the project lacks proper congressional approval and disrupts historic sightlines between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. Rep. Jared Huffman, a California Democrat, called the arch illegal and a tribute to Trump rather than veterans. He stated the monument would dishonor America by mimicking structures built for emperors and kings.
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan is overseeing lawsuits filed by the District of Columbia, Virginia, veterans, and an architectural historian. On Monday, Chutkan ordered the commission to notify her within an hour of any decision. She applied the same deadline to the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior. A judge could rule as early as Thursday on whether to block construction while the cases are pending.
Before the hearing, Justice Department attorneys filed a notice stating that Grunley Construction Company painted site lines on October 31. The notice said the contractor likely did not have authorization from the National Park Service to undertake that work. Phil Mendelson, chairman of the D.C. council, questioned how the arch would impact the symbolic line of unification between the North and South.
Administration lawyer Robert Stander told the court the arch is a high-priority project. He argued that any ruling delaying construction would impede government work. The commission began reviewing the plan in June, and a vote could launch construction within a day if approved.
