{"id":4346,"date":"2026-06-19T11:05:26","date_gmt":"2026-06-19T11:05:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=4346"},"modified":"2026-06-19T11:05:26","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T11:05:26","slug":"trumps-arch-or-any-federal-building-can-flout-d-c-height-law-administration-argues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=4346","title":{"rendered":"Trump\u2019s arch \u2014\u00a0or any federal building \u2014\u00a0can flout D.C. height law, administration argues"},"content":{"rendered":"

Critics say the administration is sidestepping a law that has shaped Washington\u2019s skyline for more than a century.<\/strong><\/p>

Read more Farmers backed Trump. Now some say they\u2019re losing patience.<\/a><\/p>\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n
A model of the proposed 250-foot arch. (Evelyn Hockstein\/Reuters)<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n

The Trump administration is arguing that new federal construction projects \u2014 including President Donald Trump\u2019s controversial 250-foot arch \u2014 are not subject to a federal law that restricts most construction in Washington to a maximum height of 130 feet.<\/p>\n

An Interior Department memo<\/a> posted Thursday offers a new interpretation of the Height of Buildings Act, which was enacted in 1910 to preserve the capital city\u2019s historical views and character. The law has traditionally been applied to federal projects, helping preserve Washington\u2019s distinctive skyline.<\/p>\n

But in its memo, the Interior Department writes that the Height Act should be considered a local zoning law, mostly focused on private property, with exemptions for federal construction. The memo, which was posted ahead of a federal commission\u2019s hearing on the arch next month, cites a series of statutes and zoning provisions.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn sum, federal buildings are not subject to the [Height of Buildings Act],\u201d the memo concludes.<\/p>\n

That interpretation would reverse a long-held stance by the National Capital Planning Commission, which is considering whether to approve Trump\u2019s project.<\/p>\n

The administration\u2019s new stance also would allow Trump \u2014 who has built skyscrapers across the world \u2014 to build any tall federal structure in Washington, too.<\/p>\n

The Interior Department did not respond to questions Thursday about who authored the memo and whether Trump is planning any additional large projects for Washington.<\/p>\n

\u201cGreat nations build beautiful structures and works of art that cultivate national pride and love of country. In this tradition, Secretary [Doug] Burgum is thrilled to champion the United States triumphal arch which will be a project that all Americans can be proud of,\u201d the department said in a statement.<\/p>

Read more Why democratic socialists like Lewis George in D.C. keep winning in cities<\/a><\/p>\n

Historians, architects and Democrats have said that the Height Act would apply to the president\u2019s arch and that there is no special exemption for federal buildings.<\/p>\n

\u201cCongress, not the Executive, decided in 1910 that Washington would remain a horizontal city, and Congress has preserved that judgment ever since,\u201d congressional Democrats wrote to Burgum on Tuesday, warning him against building the arch.<\/p>\n

Will Scharf, the Trump-appointed head of the National Capital Planning Commission, had requested the Interior Department memo as part of the commission\u2019s review of Trump\u2019s arch. Scharf had argued<\/a> earlier this month that the Height Act should not apply to Trump\u2019s arch.<\/p>\n

The planning commission, which Trump has packed with allies, is set to review and potentially approve the arch at a July 9 meeting.<\/p>\n

Career staff on the commission, which Congress charged with reviewing and approving new federal construction, have questioned how Trump\u2019s arch would comply with the Height Act.<\/p>\n

\u201cNCPC has always applied the Height of Buildings Act to federal projects,\u201d the commission\u2019s staff wrote in a report<\/a> reviewing the arch proposal.<\/p>\n

Most Americans oppose the planned arch, with 52 percent against it and 21 percent in favor, according to a Washington Post-ABC-Ipsos poll conducted in April<\/a>. The project is also facing a lawsuit brought by several military veterans<\/a> who say the towering structure would alter their visiting experience to nearby Arlington National Cemetery.<\/p>

Read more Flesh-eating maggot outbreak puts Trump administration response under scrutiny<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The new interpretation would allow Trump to build his 250-foot arch \u2014 or any other federal structure \u2014\u00a0without deferring to a federal law that has restricted most D.C. construction to 130 feet tall.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4343,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4346","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-interesting"],"yoast_head":"\nTrump\u2019s arch \u2014\u00a0or any federal building \u2014\u00a0can flout D.C. height law, administration argues - Moving Insider USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=4346\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Trump\u2019s arch \u2014\u00a0or any federal building \u2014\u00a0can flout D.C. height law, administration argues - 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