Key facts
- Senator Tammy Duckworth urged FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford to resist pressure from President Donald Trump regarding a proposed triumphal arch.
- The proposed 250-foot arch is intended to commemorate the country's 250th anniversary.
- Duckworth cited aviation safety concerns due to the arch's proximity to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
- A preliminary FAA study found no adverse impacts to airport operations, but noted the need for obstruction lights.
- The senator also raised concerns about the arch potentially desecrating historic sightlines.
Senator Tammy Duckworth has formally urged the head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to resist any pressure from President Donald Trump to prioritize the construction of his proposed triumphal arch over aviation safety. The Illinois senator, who leads the Democratic side of the Senate's aviation subcommittee, expressed concerns in a letter sent Thursday.
Duckworth's letter questions whether the FAA's initial review of the 250-foot (76-meter) arch, intended to commemorate the nation's 250th anniversary, has been improperly expedited. She raised concerns that the president or his aides might be exerting undue influence to fast-track approval, potentially compromising public safety. The proposed structure would be more than twice the height of the Lincoln Memorial.
According to a National Park Service preliminary report cited by Duckworth, the arch's construction could require around-the-clock work for up to 20 hours per day, utilizing cranes that reach up to 320 feet (106 meters) tall, all within a three-year timeframe. Duckworth highlighted the close proximity of the proposed arch to the airspace of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, referencing a fatal helicopter-jet collision there last year as evidence of the risks associated with inadequate coordination in the area.
The FAA has previously stated that its preliminary feasibility study indicated no adverse impacts on operations at the nearby airport, though it acknowledged the necessity of red obstruction lights on the structure. The agency indicated that a more comprehensive study, in collaboration with the park service, would follow. Beyond safety, Duckworth also voiced concern that the arch would disrupt the historic sightline between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, which she described as an "offensive desecration."