Miami
FAA clears Trump-backed arch near Washington Reagan National
The agency said the planned structure over the Potomac would not pose a hazard to airport operations. The proposal still faces political and safety criticism.
The Federal Aviation Administration said Friday that the triumphal arch backed by Donald Trump near Arlington Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial would not create a hazard for flights arriving at and departing from Washington Reagan National Airport, CBS News Miami reported.
According to the agency, the structure would have no substantial adverse effect on the use of the airport’s airspace or on its navigation systems. The FAA also said it must be notified at least 10 days before construction officially begins.
The agency reviewed public comments that raised questions about possible effects on airport capacity and pilot workload, but concluded there was no issue.
The project, which is expected to break ground in the coming days, has drawn sharp criticism since it was announced, largely because it would stand along one of the airport’s busiest flight paths in Arlington, Virginia.
Democratic lawmakers argued that the 260-foot arch could add complexity to already challenging airspace. CBS News Miami noted that Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth sent a letter to the FAA in June calling the project dangerous and criticizing its progress while the agency is pursuing safety improvements in the area after a collision in late January 2025.
Earlier this year, the FAA completed an initial feasibility review after determining that the design exceeded the 200-foot threshold allowed near the airport. That review also found no impact on flight operations or navigational tools, although it required obstruction lighting to warn aircraft about the structure.
Before the final approval, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum had announced that initial excavation work would begin. The FAA added Friday that any further changes to the plans or to the arch’s height would have to be submitted again to the agency.
Sources
About this piece. Written by El Notero with AI assistance, from reporting published by the outlet cited above. El Notero did no original reporting on this story.
