President Donald Trump's proposed Triumphal Arch near Washington DC is moving toward a key review, with new plans offering a more detailed look at the massive monument and the features it could include.
The U.S. Department of the Interior submitted updated plans to the National Capital Planning Commission, which is scheduled to consider the project Nov. 5. The submission includes details about the arch's design, lighting and surrounding traffic changes.
Here's what to know about the proposed monument and the latest plans.
What will Trump's Triumphal Arch look like?
The proposed arch would be a 250-foot-tall concrete structure clad in granite, with an opening 55 feet wide. Its towering size makes it more than twice the height of the 99-foot Lincoln Memorial nearby.
Two gilded eagles would sit above the arch's legs, and a gilded winged figure holding a torch would sit atop the structure.
Plans revealed the monument would measure 166 feet wide and include an observation deck overlooking the surrounding area. Six stairways and five elevators would provide access to interior spaces and public areas.
Plans also call for a surrounding plaza, granite pavers, landscaping, a stone seat wall and pedestrian crosswalks.
The lighting design would highlight the structure's architectural features at night while meeting aviation safety requirements. The Federal Aviation Administration determined in September the project would pose no hazard to air navigation.
The FAA's determination comes with conditions, including an eternal flame atop the arch and continuous illumination of its upper portion using searchlight projectors at the base. The flame would serve as a prominent feature of the monument and help make the structure visible to aircraft at night.
While the Interior Department says the design will include "security features," the final plans do not mention a military complex, despite Trump's previous statements that the arch could house drones, ammunition and sniper positions.
The proposed site sits at the Virginia end of Arlington Memorial Bridge, where Memorial Avenue meets Memorial Circle on Columbia Island. The arch would stand across the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial.
The National Capital Planning Commission approved preliminary plans in July. The commission's Nov. 5 meeting will determine whether the project receives final site and building approval.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What will Trump's arch near DC look like? Final plans revealed
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY at https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/state/washington-dc/2026/10/20/what-trumps-250-foot-triumphal-arch-near-washington-dc-would-look-like/92346193007/