Press Releases

Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) today responded to an assessment by the National Park Service of the impacts on capital region historic sites by President Trump’s proposed 250-foot arch, which found the project would “adversely affect” dozens of major sites, many of which are in Beyer’s district. Beyer represents a Northern Virginia district in the U.S. House that includes Arlington National Cemetery, and is leading congressional efforts to block the project. 

“The Administration itself is confirming that Trump’s illegal arch project would massively disrupt many of the sites that draw millions of people to the capital every year,” said Beyer. “This is ridiculous and unacceptable, and nobody here wants it. Trump’s arch would be an enormous monument to his vanity and insecurity, and an insult to our heroes buried at Arlington National Cemetery. I will do all in my power to ensure that it is never constructed.”

The National Park Service’s “Assessment of Effect” on President Trump’s proposed 250-foot “triumphal arch” found that the arch would “adversely affect” dozens of nearby historic sites and monuments, including Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington Memorial Bridge, the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, the National Cathedral, George Washington Memorial Parkway, and many others. The proposal currently faces legal challenges, which allege that it violates the National Historic Preservation Act.

Rep. Don Beyer is leading congressional efforts to block construction of Trump’s arch. His Northern Virginia district includes the Arlington National Cemetery, where his parents, grandparents, and sister are buried. He is the author of the Arlington National Cemetery Viewshed Protection Act, which would explicitly prohibit construction of the arch. He previously raised concerns about the projects impacts on traffic in the region, which the Trump Administration has yet to address. The arch has been a consistent source of anger and concern to Beyer’s constituents, who like much of the country, vociferously oppose the project.