Top Senate Democrat calls on FAA to reject White House’s arch plan: ‘Trump putting his pet projects first’

Top Senate Democrat calls on FAA to reject White House’s arch plan: ‘Trump putting his pet projects first’ Senator Tammy Duckworth has said the project runs counter to FAA efforts to enhance DC airspace safety - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments A top-ranking Democrat has urged the Federal Aviation Administration to reject President Donald Trump’s plans for a "Triumphful Arch” saying its height puts planes in danger. Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth, a ranking member of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, called the arch a “vanity project” in her open letter to the FAA, adding that the proposed taxpayer funded 259-foot arch could create serious flight complications in the airspace around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, one of the most congested airspace in the U.S. During the first month of the Trump administration, a deadly crash occurred by the airport when an army helicopter collided with a commercial plane, killing 67 people. In her letter to FAA administrator Bryan Bedford, Senator Duckworth said: “President Trump choosing to force the FAA to invest limited staff and resources into a distracting review of his gaudy and disgraceful arch is merely the latest example of Trump putting his pet projects first, while neglecting America’s needs. “This wasteful and dangerous project is particularly irresponsible given the FAA’s ongoing efforts to implement safety enhancements in and around [Reagan airport] following the preventable [Reagan airport] collision in late January 2025, the deadliest domestic air crash since the 2009 Colgan tragedy.” The Independent has reached out to the White House for comment. The president’s proposed arch would be located near Arlington National Cemetery, across a bridge from Washington, D.C Trump has long promoted the planned arch even showing off models of its design. Plans show that the arch would resemble the Arc de Triomphe in Paris with large gold angels on top of the white arch. An image shared to Truth Social shows that the arch would be twice the height of the Lincoln Memorial. The White House has referred to it as a “victory arch.” It is unclear what victory the president is celebrating. The arch proposal is being sued by a group of veterans who say the structure would block the “historically significant view” between Arlington Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial. Duckworth, who is also a veteran, added in her letter: “[The arch] would offensively desecrate the hallowed symbolism of Arlington National Cemetery by destroying the historic sightline between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington House that has symbolized post-Civil War unity for decades.” This is one of several architectural projects that the president has either proposed or already begun to implement in D.C. The former real estate magnate has already demolished the East wing of the White House to build a ballroom that he claims is critical for national security, and has repainted the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool, which is now plagued with algae. The president has proudly told the press that he has “two jobs,” and that one of them is a “construction job.” Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments