US President Donald Trump said Sunday that his planned triumphal arch near Washington, DC, would also function as a military complex housing drones, snipers and ammunition, adding a national security role to a monument already facing legal challenges and criticism over its location and scale.
Trump said the change came at the military’s request, but did not identify specific threats or explain why the capabilities would be needed at the proposed site near Arlington National Cemetery.
Trump said the 250-foot arch would provide the ability to store and rapidly deploy large numbers of drones, while accommodating snipers on its roof and plaza areas and storing sniper ammunition.
A US military official told Reuters that the Defense Department had nothing to add beyond Trump’s social media post.
The White House did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
Trump has also described his roughly $400 million White House ballroom project as a national security facility, with plans including a drone facility, bomb shelters and other military installations.
Retired Marine Colonel Mark Cancian questioned the rationale for adding military functions to the arch, noting its proximity to Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall and the Pentagon.
He also raised logistical questions about ammunition storage and the usefulness of positioning snipers at the monument.
The arch, proposed to mark the United States’ 250th anniversary, has faced opposition over its potential effects on historic views and its proximity to Reagan Washington National Airport.
US District Judge Tanya Chutkan ordered the administration earlier this month to provide 48 hours’ notice before conducting activity at the site while legal challenges continue.
Three Vietnam War veterans have sued to block the project, arguing that it would disrupt the historic sightline between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
The Federal Aviation Administration said last week that the arch would not pose an aircraft hazard provided it carries a warning feature at its top.
Democratic Representative Don Beyer questioned the practicality and safety of operating drones near the airport and alleged that the national security justification was intended to strengthen the administration’s legal position.
The arch forms part of Trump’s broader effort to reshape prominent sites across Washington, initiatives that have drawn opposition from preservationists, veterans and other critics.