Federal Arts Commission Approves Design for 250-Foot Arch in Washington

U.S. Commission of Fine Arts approved revised plans Thursday for a 250-foot granite arch to be built at Memorial Circle near the Arlington Memorial Bridge. S. independence. It will be topped by a 24-carat gold-plated statue of Lady Liberty and two eagles, with the phrases "Liberty And Justice For All" and "One Nation Under God" inscribed on its sides.

Trump first proposed the arch in October 2025. The structure is modeled after the Paris Arc de Triomphe and is estimated to cost $15 million, with completion targeted for July 2028. The commission is a seven-member body established by Congress in 1910. Its members are appointed by the president and serve four-year terms.

After an April review, the commission asked architect Nicolas Charbonneau to revise the plans. The Thursday meeting removed an eight-foot base and four gold lions from the design. The project still requires approval from the National Capital Planning Commission, which is scheduled to meet on June 4.

The commission received about 600 public comments before the meeting, with roughly 99 percent unfavorable. S. Vietnam veterans has filed a lawsuit claiming the arch would obstruct views of Arlington National Cemetery. " CFA Chairman Rodney Mims Cook Jr. " The White House had no additional comment on the approval.