Officials Doubt Trump’s 250-Foot D.C. Arch Will House Drones and Snipers
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Sep 29
Officials Doubt Trump’s 250-Foot D.C. Arch Will House Drones and Snipers
3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Sep 29
Summary
Senior officials at the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and National Park Service told advocacy groups they have no specific plans to militarize Trump’s proposed Washington arch and are still treating it as a tourist site.
Trump said on Sept. 20 the arch would become a military complex storing drones, snipers and ammunition, but officials said they had received no added guidance from the Defense Department.
Memorial Circle opponents argue any armed redesign would trigger a new historic-review process, potentially complicating the administration’s goal of starting construction as soon as November.
Sen. Jeff Merkley moved to block federal funding for the project, but Sen. Mike Lee stopped the measure; Democrats have warned they could try to delay or halt the arch after November’s midterms.