Park Service Finds Trump's 250-Foot Arch Would Damage About 40 Historic Sites — Including the View From Arlington

The National Park Service released an assessment on Aug. 3, 2026 finding that Trump's proposed 250-foot Triumphal Arch would adversely affect dozens of historic sites in and around Washington — about 40 by the agency's count, including the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, Arlington National Cemetery and the U.S. Capitol. The report, part of a Section 106 review required under the National Historic Preservation Act, says the arch would obstruct the sightline from the Lincoln Memorial to Arlington and would place an observation deck within view of private funerals at the cemetery. The Park Service set an Aug. 6 deadline for public comment.

The finding is the government's own record that a presidential monument project conflicts with the preservation standards the same government administers.

Virginia's State Historic Preservation Officer, Roger W. Kitchen, wrote to the Park Service in June that the adverse effects are intentional and inherent in the design of the arch. Preservation groups in Virginia and Washington have said the review is being rushed, noting it began only after the construction site was chosen and after a federal panel had approved the design.