Trump administration reshuffles commission before vote on 250-foot Arlington arch

President Donald Trump’s plan for a 250-foot concrete arch near Arlington National Cemetery faces a pivotal commission reshuffle just as final plans were released. The 12-member body, normally composed of heads of the Pentagon, the Department of the Interior and the General Services Administration with deputies as alternates, has swapped out several officials, notably senior National Park Service staffer Tammy Stidham, who had voted on numerous prior projects.

Two of the incoming alternates are veterans, and the commission’s chair, Mark Paoletta, has publicly pledged to approve the monument, calling the empty Memorial Traffic Circle a national disgrace. Opponents, ranging from veterans organizations to historic preservation groups, contend the arch’s 250-foot height and its proximity to Arlington are disrespectful, urging a lower structure or alternate location. The design includes two gilded eagles, a gilded torch-bearing figure at the summit, an observation deck, elevators, stairways, and a surrounding plaza with granite pavers and lighting. Preliminary plans were cleared in July, and the final site and building approval will be decided at the November 5 meeting.