Senator Duckworth Urges FAA to Resist Trump Pressure on Proposed Triumphal Arch

Senator Tammy Duckworth, the top Democrat on the Senate's aviation subcommittee, has urged the Federal Aviation Administration to reject any pressure from President Donald Trump to prioritize construction of his planned 250-foot triumphal arch over aviation safety concerns.

In a letter sent Thursday to FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford, Duckworth raised questions about whether the president or his White House aides are "already improperly pressuring FAA to prioritize rubberstamping Trump's vanity arch over public safety." The arch, proposed to commemorate the nation's 250th anniversary, would stand more than twice as tall as the Lincoln Memorial. According to a National Park Service preliminary report, officials aim to complete the structure within three years, potentially requiring 20 hours of work per day and cranes reaching 320 feet in height.

Duckworth's primary concern centers on the arch's proximity to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport's complex airspace. She cited a 2025 collision between a U.S. Army helicopter and a commercial jet near the airport that killed 67 people, arguing that this tragedy "underscores the consequences of inadequate coordination and the need for extreme caution when evaluating any new obstruction in this environment." The FAA's preliminary feasibility study found "no adverse impacts to operations" at the airport, though the structure would require red obstruction lights as a safety measure.

Beyond aviation safety, Duckworth also raised architectural and cultural concerns, noting that the arch would interrupt the historic sightline between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, which she described as potentially "offensively desecrat[ing] the hallowed symbolism" of these landmarks. The FAA said it would respond directly to Duckworth and indicated that a full study in coordination with the National Park Service would follow the preliminary review.