The FAA has determined that the proposed 250-foot arch near the Lincoln Memorial would not pose a hazard to aircraft operating near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, but the clearance comes with conditions: a non-standard "eternal flame" atop the structure and floodlights to ensure visibility to pilots. The decision follows a technical review of local airspace and procedures and can be challenged administratively until Oct. 18; the determination remains in effect through Oct. 28, 2026. Veterans and lawmakers have opposed the plan on grounds of respect for memorial sightlines and aviation safety after a January 2025 collision.
FAA Clears Trump's 250-Foot D.C. Arch — But Requires an 'Eternal Flame' and Floodlights
President Donald Trump holding up a model of the arch in October 2025Credit: Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has determined that the 250-foot arch proposed by former President Donald Trump would not pose a hazard to aircraft operating near Washington, D.C., but the agency has attached specific safety conditions to the approval.
The arch, which backers say is modeled on Paris's Arc de Triomphe and is intended to mark the nation's 250th anniversary, would stand less than a mile from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). FAA officials said safety experts reviewed local airspace, flight patterns and nearby military and public-use airports before reaching their conclusion.
Ronald Reagan Washington National AirportCredit: Getty
"The FAA's determination includes conditions for the Arch to be appropriately marked with a non-standard eternal flame on top of the structure and floodlight projectors pointed towards the Arch to make it noticeable for pilots," the agency said.
As part of the determination, the FAA specified an uncommon requirement: a permanently burning or "non-standard" eternal flame mounted on top of the arch, plus floodlighting to ensure the monument is visible to pilots. The agency said those conditions are intended to reduce any risk the structure might pose to aircraft operations.
Timing and Review Process
The FAA published a hazard study and said the agency's finding is not final until Oct. 28, 2026. The determination may be administratively challenged: interested parties have until Oct. 18 to file a petition for review, according to the FAA notice.
Diagrams of the planned archCredit: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty
Opposition and Legal Challenges
The plan has drawn political and legal opposition. In May, several Vietnam War veterans filed a lawsuit seeking to block construction of the arch, which would be sited between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. The veterans argue the monument would obstruct sightlines between two national shrines and said the placement is disrespectful; one plaintiff said he is reconsidering burial at Arlington because of the proposal.
Democratic lawmakers have also expressed concern. Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth described the project as "dangerous" in a June letter to the FAA, citing safety worries that intensified after a January 2025 collision in the Washington, D.C., area involving an American Airlines jet and a U.S. Army helicopter. Duckworth urged caution given the FAA's ongoing efforts to strengthen safety measures around DCA.
Background
Trump first publicly floated the idea of a new arch during an October 2025 fundraising event, showing three possible designs and arguing the monument would complete a view toward the Lincoln Memorial from a nearby bridge. Supporters say the arch is intended as a 250-foot tribute to the country's 250th anniversary.
For now, the FAA's finding allows planning to proceed but keeps a clear path for administrative review and legal challenges. Interested parties may still seek to overturn the determination before the Oct. 18 petition deadline.
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