WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump said Sunday that his proposed 250-foot triumphal arch near Arlington Memorial Bridge will also function as what he called a top grade military complex, with space for drones, sniper positions and ammunition storage.
Trump said in a social media post that he agreed to the change at the strong request of the United States military and for national security purposes. That explanation has not been independently confirmed by the Defense Department.
The Pentagon told The Associated Press that it had no information beyond the president's statement. A U.S. military official separately told Reuters that the Defense Department had nothing to add beyond Trump's post. The distinction is important: Trump has publicly attributed the idea to the military, but the Pentagon has not independently announced that it requested the conversion or explained what military requirement the facility would address.
Trump described the proposed facility as capable of housing and rapidly deploying large numbers of drones. He also said sniper positions would be located on both roof and plaza areas and that the structure would store large quantities of sniper ammunition.
The president did not identify a specific security threat that prompted the proposed military functions or explain how the drones and sniper positions would be used.
Military role was not part of earlier public plans
The announcement represents a significant addition to the publicly described purpose of the arch.
The National Park Service's current project description identifies the proposed United States Triumphal Arch as a monumental structure intended to commemorate the nation's 250th anniversary and honor American principles. It describes the project as a ceremonial gateway at the intersection of Arlington Memorial Bridge and Memorial Avenue.
The National Capital Planning Commission similarly said when it granted preliminary approval in July that the Department of the Interior proposed the arch to celebrate the triumphs of the American people, encourage patriotism and beautify the nation's capital.
Those publicly available planning descriptions do not identify the structure as a military installation or describe drone facilities, sniper positions or ammunition storage.
The Washington Post reported Sunday that the issue of converting the arch into a military complex had not previously been raised during the preservation review process. The newspaper also reported that the Pentagon and Interior Department had not immediately responded to its requests for additional information about Trump's announcement.
It therefore remains unclear whether revised architectural, security or environmental plans incorporating the military functions have been prepared or submitted to the federal agencies reviewing the project.
Project still lacks final approval
The arch is proposed for Memorial Circle on Columbia Island at the western end of Arlington Memorial Bridge. The location sits along the ceremonial corridor connecting the Lincoln Memorial with Arlington National Cemetery.
The National Capital Planning Commission approved preliminary site and building plans on July 9, but specifically required additional issues to be addressed before final review. The commission's action was not final approval.
The National Park Service has also completed an environmental assessment and issued a finding that the project would not produce significant environmental effects. The agency explicitly states, however, that the finding does not constitute a final decision or approval because other parts of the federal review process remain incomplete.
A separate National Park Service historic-preservation review concluded that the project would have an adverse effect on one or more historic properties.
The proposed military functions could create additional questions for that process if they require substantial changes to the design, operations or security arrangements described in the plans already reviewed. Federal agencies had not publicly explained Sunday whether another review would be required.
Legal challenge continues
The project is also the subject of ongoing litigation. Three veterans and an architectural historian have challenged the arch, arguing that the administration lacks the required congressional authorization to build it.
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan ordered the administration earlier this month to provide 48 hours of notice before conducting activity at the site, according to Reuters.
An attorney representing the challengers argued Sunday that Trump's newly stated national security rationale does not resolve their underlying legal objection. The administration has disputed arguments that the project cannot proceed under its existing authority.
The arch has cleared one separate aviation review. The Federal Aviation Administration determined Friday that the proposed structure would not create a hazard to air navigation, subject to visibility requirements that include illumination and an eternal flame at the top of the structure.
Questions about military purpose
Mark Cancian, a retired Marine colonel and senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Reuters that the newly announced military purpose raised practical questions because existing military facilities are already nearby.
Fort Myer, part of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, is approximately a mile from the proposed arch site, while the Pentagon is roughly two miles away. Cancian also questioned the logistical rationale for storing ammunition at the monument and the usefulness of permanently positioning snipers there.
Trump has used a national security rationale for another major construction project in Washington. He has described the new White House ballroom complex as having defensive functions, including the ability to support drone operations.
What remains unresolved
The most important unanswered question from Sunday's announcement is whether the U.S. military formally requested the arch's conversion into a military facility and, if so, what operational requirement led to that request.
Trump says the request came from the military. The Pentagon has not contradicted that statement, but it also has not independently confirmed it or released details supporting it.
It is also not yet clear how the newly announced military functions would alter the arch's design, cost, security footprint or federal approval process.
The existing public planning record still describes a 250-foot commemorative arch rather than an operational military complex. Until the Defense Department, Interior Department or another responsible agency releases additional information or revised plans, Trump's Sunday announcement remains the primary public source for the proposed military role.