The Federal Aviation Administration has determined that President Donald Trump’s planned triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial will not pose a substantial hazard to aircraft operating at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).
The planned structure, which is expected to stand about 260 feet tall, will be located close to one of the airport’s most heavily used flight paths. Its location had prompted concerns from lawmakers and members of the public about whether it could complicate an already tightly controlled airspace or increase pilot workload.
Following an aeronautical study, the FAA concluded that the arch would have no substantial adverse effect on the use of Washington’s navigable airspace or on the operation of DCA’s navigation facilities.
The agency had previously determined that the structure would exceed the 200-foot threshold applicable in the area and would therefore require special obstruction marking. The FAA has now required the arch to have lighting that makes it clearly visible to aircraft operating nearby.
The decision comes amid heightened scrutiny of the airspace around Reagan National following the January 2025 midair collision involving an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, which killed all 67 people aboard the two aircraft.
Critics had questioned whether adding a large structure close to the airport could further complicate operations. Democratic lawmakers, including Sen. Tammy Duckworth, had urged the FAA to carefully consider the potential impact on aviation safety.
The FAA said any future changes to the arch’s design or height would have to be submitted for another review. The agency also requires notification at least 10 days before construction officially begins.
The FAA’s determination clears a major aviation-related hurdle for the project, but the planned monument continues to face criticism and scrutiny over its location, design and impact on the Washington landscape.
