Designs for 250-ft arch in Washington approved by panel of Trump appointees

The Commission of Fine Arts on Thursday approved designs for Donald Trump’s proposed 250-ft triumphal arch in Washington DC.

The vote on Thursday by the panel, which is made up of Trump appointees, marks a key step forward for the project. Next month, the proposed design is set to be reviewed by the National Capital Planning Commission, another federal panel that oversees planning for federal buildings and land.

“Washington is not a static city,” the panel’s chairman, Rodney Mims Cook Jr, said on Thursday, according to the New York Times. “It must grow to allow the next 250 years of Americans to celebrate their accomplishments.” He also described the building as “beautiful” according to reports.

The arch, dubbed the “Arc de Trump”, is designed to stand 250ft tall, and includes a public viewing deck.

The administration has said it believes the monument will be “one of the most iconic landmarks not only in Washington DC, but throughout the world”. They have also said that positioning of the arch near Arlington National Cemetery would serve as “a visual reminder of the noble sacrifices borne by so many American heroes throughout our 250-year history so we can enjoy our freedoms today”.

But, earlier this year, a group of military veterans and a historic preservationists sued to stop construction of the arch, arguing that the structure had not recieved congressional approval and would disrupt the experience of visiting Arlington National Cemetery and obstruct “the symbolic and inspiring view” from the cemetery to the Lincoln Memorial.