The design, which will rise along the Potomac River near Arlington National Cemetery, has been modified from its original concept but retains the towering sculptures that the president personally insisted upon.
The revised plan removes a platform beneath the arch and eliminates tunnel access to the site, according to details presented during the meeting. At Mr. Trump’s direction, the designers kept the plan for large golden sculptures atop the structure, and they selected granite as the surface stone. The arch itself will stand 166 feet tall, with the statue bringing the total height to 250 feet.
One commissioner had previously questioned the inclusion of a 60-foot golden statue of Lady Liberty flanked by eagles. But the arch’s designer, Nicolas Charbonneau, told the panel that Mr. Trump had considered and ultimately rejected the suggestion to remove it. All commissioners were appointed by the president earlier this year.
The triumphal arch is one of several projects the Trump administration has undertaken to remodel Washington at the president’s personal direction. Other efforts include renovations in Lafayette Park, a planned “heroes” garden, and repairs to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. These initiatives have stirred significant debate on Capitol Hill.
Democratic lawmakers have questioned whether the administration is steamrolling through traditional review processes and failing to seek required congressional approvals. The question of funding also remains unresolved. Mr. Trump has said the project could be financed using leftover private donations from his $400 million ballroom fund, and the National Endowment for the Humanities has indicated it will divert money to the project.
Commissioners at Thursday’s meeting said they supported the project because it reflected prior plans to build memorials at the traffic circle on the Virginia side of the Memorial Bridge. While the commission approved the arch, the decision is likely to intensify scrutiny from lawmakers and preservation groups who argue that the process has bypassed standard oversight.
