Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin argued in federal court filings on Wednesday, October 28, that a proposed 250-foot triumphal arch in Washington, D.C., is a "generational defense opportunity." The officials stated the monument, planned for Memorial Circle near Arlington National Cemetery, would serve as a dual-purpose structure to mitigate drone attacks and house snipers. These declarations were submitted as part of the administration's effort to dismiss a lawsuit seeking to halt the project.
President Donald Trump first proposed the arch in October 2025, initially describing it as a monument to honor himself before later stating it would commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States. In September 2026, the president announced via Truth Social that the project would be converted into a "top grade Military Complex" at the request of the U.S. military. Critics, including veterans and Democratic lawmakers, have characterized the national security justification as a pretext to advance a construction project they argue will disrupt burials and historic views.
In his filing, Hegseth stated the arch's height provides a "significant elevation advantage" for sensors and personnel to detect and disrupt aerial systems. Mullin added that the Secret Service could utilize the structure to monitor and protect senior government officials. Both secretaries maintained that these military capabilities could be implemented without structural modifications to existing plans, which would avoid additional regulatory reviews. However, the Interior Department recently submitted documentation to the National Capital Planning Commission that does not include the military features mentioned by the president.
The scale of the project involves millions of dollars in construction and federal oversight from multiple agencies, including the National Park Service and the Commission of Fine Arts. The administration argues that blocking the project would prevent the government from mitigating "ever-growing" threats to the capital, a claim that sets a precedent for using national security designations to bypass standard historic preservation reviews. Veterans groups like VoteVets have organized protests, stating the monument’s proximity to active burial grounds is inappropriate for a tourist attraction or military installation.
Legal proceedings will continue with a hearing scheduled for Friday, October 30, before U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to determine if the White House has the authority to build at that location. The National Capital Planning Commission, which is composed of several presidential appointees, is scheduled to vote on final site approval next week. If the commission approves the plans, the Justice Department has indicated that construction could begin as early as November 5, 2026, with above-ground work slated for May 2027 and a final completion date in 2030.