WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said Sunday that he had approved a military request to transform his proposed triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery into a military complex for housing and deploying drones and sniper ammunition.
Trump cited national security concerns behind the decision but did not identify any specific threats.
The Federal Aviation Administration said last week that the proposed 250-foot (76-metre) arch would not pose a danger to aircraft. However, it required the structure to feature an “eternal flame” at the top, clearing a key aviation-related obstacle for the project.
Trump initially proposed the arch as part of celebrations marking the United States’ 250th anniversary.
The project has faced opposition from aviation experts and veterans. Aviation specialists have raised safety concerns because of the structure’s proximity to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Veterans have also filed a lawsuit seeking to block the project, arguing that the arch would disrupt the historic sightline between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
The proposed military complex is part of Trump’s wider plans to reshape Washington’s monumental landscape. Other projects include a new ballroom at the White House, renovations to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and the redevelopment of a golf course at East Potomac Park.