Trump's Proposed Arch Near Reagan National Airport Draws Flight-Safety Warnings From Union

The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, led by president Sara Nelson, said on October 7, 2026 that Trump's proposed 250-foot arch at Memorial Circle in Arlington, Virginia sits on the final approach to Reagan Washington National Airport and would add to safety problems unaddressed since the January 2025 midair collision over the Potomac that killed 67 people. Nelson said the airport is already at capacity and objected separately to plans for military drones, missiles, and snipers nearby, saying "safety first always." Trump has said he agreed, at the military's "strong request," to convert the project into a military complex.

The FAA said the arch would not be a hazard if marked, suggesting an eternal flame and floodlights atop it. The Park Service's own assessment warned the arch could affect nearby historic sites but approved the project anyway, as did the Commission of Fine Arts, whose members Trump appointed. Three veterans and an architectural historian have sued, arguing the project needs congressional approval it has not received; that case is pending.