Trump arch excavation to start in Washington, US says

The US Interior Department is preparing to begin excavation within two weeks for President Donald Trump's planned 250-foot triumphal arch in Washington, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said on September 3.

Burgum said the work is for the “Great Triumphal Arch,” planned for a grassy traffic circle on an island in the Potomac River between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.

The proposed structure is a white triumphal arch topped with large golden statues of an angel and eagles. Burgum said it would honor the history and significance of Arlington Cemetery.

The plan has drawn concern in Washington because the administration has not sought congressional input for such a major change to the capital. Its size would also interrupt sight lines between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, the burial place for hundreds of thousands of US servicemembers.

The arch is one of several Trump-backed renovation projects in Washington since he took office again in January 2025. Other projects include a White House ballroom, the renovation of the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall and changes involving Trump’s name at the Kennedy Center.