Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) has called on the Federal Aviation Administration to block the White House's proposal to construct a triumphal arch near the Lincoln Memorial, labeling the project a dangerous distraction and a personal vanity piece for President Trump.
In a letter sent Thursday, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation urged the FAA to reject the plan, arguing the 259-foot structure modeled after Paris's Arc de Triomphe would pose unnecessary risks to commercial aviation in the already congested airspace around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
“President Trump choosing to force the FAA to invest limited staff and resources into a distracting review of his gaudy and disgraceful arch is merely the latest example of Trump putting his pet projects first, while neglecting America’s needs,” Duckworth wrote.
The National Park Service estimates construction would require cranes reaching 300 feet or higher and could last 20 hours a day for two to three years. A coalition of six lawmakers sent a letter in June to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and the acting NPS director, arguing the administration lacks the authority to build without congressional approval and that the arch would violate both the Height of Buildings Act and the Commemorative Works Act.
The FAA conducted a preliminary review last week, concluding the structure would need red safety lights—standard for buildings over 200 feet near airports—but found no evidence it would have an “adverse” impact on DCA's airspace. However, the agency will now conduct a full aeronautical study in coordination with the NPS. An FAA spokesperson said the agency will respond directly to Duckworth.
Duckworth highlighted the dangers of even minor disruptions in the National Capital Region, which includes a 15-mile radius from DCA. She referenced last year's deadly collision between an American Airlines passenger plane and an Army Black Hawk helicopter that killed 67 people. “The DCA midair collision underscores the consequences of inadequate coordination and the need for extreme caution when evaluating any new obstruction in this environment,” she said.
The Washington Monument, at 555 feet, already has red warning lights for night flights. Duckworth argued that adding another tall structure would compound risks in an airspace already complicated by restricted zones and civil-military operations. “Even minor disruptions can have cascading, fatal effects,” she warned.
The White House did not respond to a request for comment. The arch plan has drawn bipartisan criticism, with some Republicans also questioning the cost and process.
As the FAA moves forward with its study, Duckworth’s letter underscores growing frustration among Democrats with the administration's priorities. The pushback comes as Trump's economic approval ratings hit new lows, and as internal party tensions emerge over issues like the California billionaire tax initiative and the tracking of Jewish donors.
