Work on Trump-backed Triumphal Arch will start in coming weeks, Burgum says

Updated on: September 3, 2026 / 10:41 PM EDT / CBS News

Work on Trump-backed Triumphal Arch will start in coming weeks, Burgum says

TL;DR

  • Excavation for a 250-foot-tall triumphal arch near Arlington Memorial Cemetery will begin within two weeks.
  • The project is championed by President Trump and is intended to honor the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
  • Construction is expected to take two to three years, with an intense work schedule.
  • Critics argue the arch will interfere with sightlines between D.C. monuments and Arlington Cemetery and may impact air traffic.
  • A veterans' group has sued over the project, questioning the Trump administration's authority to build it.
  • The National Park Service acknowledges potential adverse impacts but deems the location historically appropriate.