The Federal Aviation Administration said Friday that President Trump’s proposed triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial would not create a hazard for aircraft arriving at or departing from Washington Reagan National Airport.
In its determination, the FAA said the structure “would have no substantial adverse effect” on use of the airspace around D.C. National Airport or on the airport’s navigation systems. The agency also said it must receive notice at least 10 days before official construction begins.
The ruling follows public comments that questioned whether the arch could reduce airport capacity or add to pilots’ workload. The FAA concluded that neither concern would pose a problem.
The project is expected to break ground within days, though it has drawn sharp criticism in the months since Trump unveiled the plan. Opponents have focused particularly on its location beneath the flight paths used by planes landing at and taking off from Reagan National Airport in nearby Arlington, Virginia.
Democratic lawmakers have warned that the 260-foot monument could add complications to an already challenging airspace. Their concerns come roughly a year and a half after the deadliest U.S. aviation crash on American soil since 2009 occurred in the area.
In a June letter to the FAA, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, an Illinois Democrat, described the proposal as “dangerous.” She said moving ahead with the arch was “particularly irresponsible” as the FAA continues safety upgrades around DCA after what she called the preventable collision there in late January 2025.
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The FAA completed an initial feasibility review earlier this year after determining the planned arch would rise above the 200-foot height limit for structures near the airport. That review found no expected impact on flight operations or navigation tools used by pilots, but it said obstruction lighting would be required to make aircraft aware of the structure.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced that preliminary excavation would begin weeks before the FAA issued its final approval. The agency said Friday that any future changes to the design or the arch’s height would have to be submitted for another review.
The proposed arch would sit along Reagan National Airport’s busiest flight path.