The Trump administration has told a federal judge that the proposed 250 foot Monumental Arch would serve as a strategic security asset, allowing officials to coordinate responses and station snipers to defend the D.C. region. The argument for the structure’s utility comes as the government seeks to begin construction on Nov 5, immediately following a scheduled vote by the National Capital Planning Commission. The administration contends the project is legally authorized by a 1925 law that incorporated plans for a monumental approach to Arlington National Cemetery.
The security justification follows a Washington Post analysis that used a 3-D model to determine the tower would cast shadows on Arlington National Cemetery for more than 280 days a year, specifically shading the grave and eternal flame of John F. Kennedy. While the administration’s current final plans omit the formal military complex of drones and snipers previously proposed by President Trump, several veterans’ groups continue to seek a preliminary injunction to halt the project. Other veterans’ organizations have recently declared neutrality on the monument’s construction.