Park Service: Arch Would Detract From 37 DC Sites

Federal park officials have tallied up the potential fallout from President Trump's proposed Triumphal Arch in Washington, DC—and it's a long list. The National Park Service says 37 historic sites, including the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials, the Washington Monument, Arlington House, the US Capitol, and the National Mall, would suffer "adverse effects" if the towering structure went up near Arlington Memorial Bridge, reports the Hill. In a federal historic-preservation review, NPS said the arch would block critical sightlines across the Potomac, including views from Lady Bird Johnson Park toward landmarks like Arlington House and the Lincoln Memorial.

"These adverse effects are intentional and inherent in the design of the arch; it is intended to dominate the surrounding landscape," Roger W. Kirchen, Virginia's state historic preservation officer, wrote in a June letter to the NPS, per the New York Times. Veterans have already sued to stop the arch, arguing it would intrude on the setting of Arlington National Cemetery. The NPS review is a necessary step toward construction, but it's unclear if it might slow the project. The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, largely made up of Trump appointees, just advanced a proposal to loosen rules for projects that affect historic sites. The National Capital Planning Commission meets on Sept. 3, and final approval could come then.