The Commission of Fine Arts gave the president preliminary approval for a 250-foot triumphal arch near the Lincoln Memorial, but vice‑chair James C. McCrery II urged the removal of the golden eagles, winged angel and lower‑level lion statues. He warned the statues, which account for a third of the structure’s height, inflate the design and pose security concerns.

McCrery, who designed Trump’s $400 million ballroom, suggested a slimmer, “more Washingtonian” profile at about 166 feet. He also flagged a planned 250‑foot tunnel beneath the arch as a security risk. The panel logged roughly 1,000 public comments, all opposing the project, and noted additional controversy over a proposed white paint job for the Eisenhower Executive Office Building and a 33,000‑square‑foot visitors’ screening center.

Chair Rodney Mims Cook Jr. praised the concept, while interior secretary Doug Burgum framed it as a symbol of American unity. Legal challenges from Vietnam‑war veterans cite the Commemorative Works Act, arguing Congress must authorize the structure. With the National Endowment for the Humanities earmarking $15 million and the administration eyeing mixed public‑private financing, groundbreaking is slated for summer, aiming for completion before the end of Trump’s term.