Trump officials say they can build 250-foot arch without Congress's approval [View all]

Source: Washington Post

Trump officials say they can build 250-foot arch without Congress's approval

To build a triumphal arch near Arlington Cemetery, the administration hopes to rely on a 100-year-old authorization for a different project on the site.

May 20, 2026 at 4:53 p.m. EDT


Workers take measurements on May 15 at Memorial Circle, the proposed site for President Donald Trump’s triumphal arch. (Kylie Cooper/Reuters)

By Dan Diamond
https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/dan-diamond/

The Trump administration does not plan to seek approval from Congress for President Donald Trump’s planned 250-foot arch, arguing that they do not need it because lawmakers a century ago authorized a somewhat similar project that was never built.

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Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/05/20/trump-officials-plan-build-arch-without-congressional-authorization/

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The Washington Post
‪@washingtonpost.com‬

Breaking news: The Trump administration does not plan to seek approval from Congress for President Trump’s planned 250-foot arch, arguing that they do not need it because lawmakers a century ago authorized a somewhat similar project that was never built.

Trump officials say they can build 250-foot arch without Congress’s okay
The administration say they are building on a project authorized by Congress a century ago. Lawyers and Democrats said the argument is an attempt to evade federal law.
www.washingtonpost.com
5:05 PM · May 20, 2026
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Breaking news: The Trump administration does not plan to seek approval from Congress for President Trump’s planned 250-foot arch, arguing that they do not need it because lawmakers a century ago authorized a somewhat similar project that was never built.

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost.com) 2026-05-20T21:05:03.815727981Z