Summary
President Donald Trump's plan to build a 250-foot Triumphal Arch near Washington, D.C., will be reviewed by a key federal agency. The same agency will also consider painting the Eisenhower Executive Office Building white and approving a new underground security screening center for White House visitors.
Key Facts
- The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts will review Trump’s designs for the Triumphal Arch, the Eisenhower Building paint job, and an underground visitor screening center.
- The Triumphal Arch would be 250 feet tall and feature a Lady Liberty-like figure, eagles, and lions with gold accents.
- The arch would be built on a man-made island on the Virginia side of the Potomac River, near the Memorial Bridge.
- The arch’s height honors America’s 250 years of history according to a White House spokesperson.
- Veterans and a historian have sued to stop the arch’s construction, citing disruption of important sightlines in the area.
- The underground screening center aims to improve security and reduce wait times for White House visitors, with construction planned to start in August.
- The Eisenhower Executive Office Building’s current gray stone exterior could be painted bright white as part of the project.
- Approval from another agency, the National Capital Planning Commission, is also required for some projects.
