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BumRushDaShow

(173,139 posts) Tue Jun 16, 2026, 09:54 AM 4 hrs ago

Lawmakers caution Burgum, NPS they have 'no power to build' Trump's arch

Source: The Hill

06/15/26 10:19 PM ET

A group of six lawmakers sent a letter on Monday to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Acting Director of the National Park Service (NPS) Jessica Bowron and one other official alerting them that they have “no power to build” a triumphal arch without approval from Congress.

“We oppose this project in the strongest terms and object to execution of the draft Programmatic Agreement. The National Park Service (NPS) is assessing the effects of an undertaking that Congress has never authorized and that two federal statutes squarely prohibit,” Sens. Angus King (I-Maine), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Jeff Merkley (Ore.) and Democratic Reps. Jared Huffman (Calif.), Maxine Dexter (Ore.) and Yaasmin Ansari (Ariz.) wrote.

“Section 106 [of the National Historic Preservation Act] consultation cannot supply that missing authority, and no programmatic agreement can resolve the adverse effects of a project the NPS has no power to build,” they added.

Five representatives and one lone senator said that efforts to erect a 250-foot triumphal arch violate the Height of Buildings Act under its current dimensions and the Commemorative Works Act, which requires congressional approval to erect structures on federal land. “A departure of this magnitude from the capital’s settled vertical order is precisely the kind of decision the law reserves to Congress,” lawmakers wrote. “Beyond its illegality, the Arch would deface one of the most deliberate and historic sightlines in America,” they added.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5925597-lawmakers-oppose-triumphal-arch/

10 replies

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Highlight:

Lawmakers caution Burgum, NPS they have 'no power to build' Trump's arch (Original Post) BumRushDaShow 4 hrs ago OP

As a taxpayer, I strongly oppose this project..in the strongest of terms. Deuxcents 4 hrs ago #1

And I Also (As a Taxpayer) Oppose This Project Completely and Entirely wyn borkins 3 hrs ago #2

trump says--But, I want it, Bayard 3 hrs ago #3

He owns property, he should build an arch for himself FakeNoose 1 hr ago #8

But the real danger is that Congress--Repugs WILL give Trump the money to build it...... riversedge 3 hrs ago #4

A few months ago that might have been likely, but there are now enough Republicans who are joining Democrats in Martin68 2 hrs ago #5

He will do just as he's being doing Katcat 2 hrs ago #7

The comment period closed yesterday but I have no doubt the response was nearly 100% negative. pat_k 2 hrs ago #6

The Arch would deface one of the most deliberate and historic sightlines in America. That's the whole point. flashman13 1 hr ago #9

I'd say, "He ain't gonna get this one." Intractable 1 hr ago #10

Deuxcents

(28,042 posts)

1. As a taxpayer, I strongly oppose this project..in the strongest of terms.

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Tue Jun 16, 2026, 09:57 AM

4 hrs ago

wyn borkins

(1,513 posts)

2. And I Also (As a Taxpayer) Oppose This Project Completely and Entirely

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Tue Jun 16, 2026, 10:14 AM

3 hrs ago

Bayard

(30,580 posts)

3. trump says--But, I want it,

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Tue Jun 16, 2026, 11:05 AM

3 hrs ago

That makes it legal. Like tearing down the East Wing of the White House.

FakeNoose

(42,839 posts)

8. He owns property, he should build an arch for himself

Reply to Bayard (Reply #3)

Tue Jun 16, 2026, 12:25 PM

1 hr ago

Why are the Americans taxpayers supposed to provide him with toys? It's too late to do anything for the 250th Anniversary anyway, whatever he starts now won't be finished until after he's dead.

riversedge

(81,976 posts)

4. But the real danger is that Congress--Repugs WILL give Trump the money to build it......

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Tue Jun 16, 2026, 11:09 AM

3 hrs ago

I fear they will--or Trump will just take it!!

.........Five representatives and one lone senator said that efforts to erect a 250-foot triumphal arch violate the Height of Buildings Act under its current dimensions and the Commemorative Works Act, which requires congressional approval to erect structures on federal land. “A departure of this magnitude from the capital’s settled vertical order is precisely the kind of decision the law reserves to Congress,” lawmakers wrote. “Beyond its illegality, the Arch would deface one of the most deliberate and historic sightlines in America,” they added.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5925597-lawmakers-oppose-triumphal-arch/

Martin68

(28,210 posts)

5. A few months ago that might have been likely, but there are now enough Republicans who are joining Democrats in

Reply to riversedge (Reply #4)

Tue Jun 16, 2026, 11:29 AM

2 hrs ago

opposing Trump to make it unlikely Congress will approve funding the the Arch. Trump's position is very weak in view of inflation, Epstein, and an embarrassing failure in the war against Iran and fear of voters' wrath during the midterms. Trump is becoming an emasculated lame duck.

Katcat

(657 posts)

7. He will do just as he's being doing

Reply to riversedge (Reply #4)

Tue Jun 16, 2026, 12:07 PM

2 hrs ago

Do it and don’t tell anyone until it’s already happening. Like he did with the WH

pat_k

(14,368 posts)

6. The comment period closed yesterday but I have no doubt the response was nearly 100% negative.

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Tue Jun 16, 2026, 11:36 AM

2 hrs ago

Here's what I submitted.

I cannot think of a more monstrously Un-American eyesore than the proposed arch.

The preposterous height would overwhelm and utterly ruin the deliberate design of the National Mall with its treasured long and open views. It will encroach on hallowed military ground and destroy the solemn views between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.

This project must be rejected to preserve the quintessentially American, elegant, restrained symmetries and harmonies of Washington D.C.s neoclassical and Federal architecture.

I, along with millions of Americans, am begging you not to commit this heartbreaking, obscenely grandiose architectural atrocity. For the sake of the nation, heed our calls.

NPS info on the project is still found at the comment link:
https://parkplanning.nps.gov/document.cfm?parkID=186&projectID=136973&documentID=151576