Flight Attendants’ Union Flags Safety Concerns Over Trump’s DC Arch

WASHINGTON – The union representing thousands of flight attendants raised safety concerns Wednesday over President Donald Trump’s proposed 250-foot (76-meter) triumphal arch, which would stand near the final approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

Sara Nelson, president of the Flight Attendants Association-CWA, said the planned structure adds to safety issues that she believes remain unresolved after the deadly January 2025 crash over the Potomac River that killed 67 people. She also objected to Trump’s proposal to transform the arch into “a top grade military complex” equipped to accommodate drones and snipers and store ammunition.

“DCA is already stretched to its limit, we do not need an obstacle taking up space in our flight path,” Nelson said. “Nor should commercial aviation have to dodge military drones, missiles or snipers while attempting to take off or land at Washington National Airport. Safety first always.”

Nelson’s comments on behalf of the union, which represents 55,000 flight attendants at 20 airlines, add to objections from veterans’ groups, members of Congress and others. Critics have cited both potential safety risks and concerns that the memorial could interfere with historic and symbolic sightlines connecting Washington, D.C.’s landmarks.

The arch has received preliminary approval from the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, whose members were all appointed by Trump. However, three veterans and an architectural historian have filed a lawsuit arguing that Congress must approve the project.

Last month, Trump wrote on social media that, at the “strong request” of the military, he had agreed to convert the planned 250-foot-tall (76-meter) memorial arch “into a top grade Military Complex.”

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Before Trump announced the military-complex plan, the Federal Aviation Administration said the arch would not create a hazard for aircraft. The agency said it should nevertheless be marked with a non-standard eternal flame atop the structure and illuminated with floodlights directed at the arch so pilots could easily see it.

A National Park Service assessment found that the memorial arch could diminish the historical significance of dozens of nearby sites. Despite that conclusion, the Park Service approved the project.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said early last month that excavation at the Memorial Circle site would begin within weeks. The Interior Department did not immediately respond to questions about whether the work had started or its current status.

The arch is among several Washington projects Trump has pursued as he reshapes the capital, including renovations to one of the city’s historic public golf courses and a threat to demolish the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.