Park Service flags Trump’s 76-meter arch as threat to DC landmarks
What’s next: The project could reach the National Capital Planning Commission for final approval as soon as Sept. 3.
National Park Service staff found that President Donald Trump’s proposed 76-meter triumphal arch would alter Washington’s skyline enough to harm views from dozens of historic sites across the capital. The assessment said the structure would disrupt the symbolic link between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, block sightlines from the Kennedy Gravesite and Robert E. Lee’s home, and change views from the National Cathedral about 6 kilometers away. The review is part of a Section 106 process under the National Historic Preservation Act, which requires agencies to weigh damage to historic properties and consider alternatives. Outside groups were asked to comment by Aug. 6, but the arch is still expected to advance with little change.