Construction on President Donald Trump’s planned triumphal arch in Washington is set to begin within the next two weeks, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced Thursday.

The project is moving forward with the major addition to the capital’s landscape despite an ongoing legal challenge.

The monument will sit on Memorial Circle, between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. From its base to the top of its statuary, the arch will stand 250 feet tall on the western end of Arlington Memorial Bridge.

“We are pleased to announce that after a very long wait (over 125 years!), we are preparing to start” excavation work, Burgum wrote on X.  “This will be one of the Great Pieces of American Architecture,” Burgum said, adding that the monument would honor Arlington National Cemetery and befit “the most powerful Capital in the World.”

Trump first unveiled plans for what was then called the “Independence Arch” last October. The administration has said the monument is intended to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary and has pointed to proposals dating to the late 19th and early 20th centuries for monumental structures at the site.

Current renderings depict a towering white arch with gold detailing, the words “One Nation Under God” and a gilded winged figure holding a torch atop the structure. 

The Commission of Fine Arts approved the architectural design in May, while the National Capital Planning Commission granted preliminary approval in July, with additional issues to be addressed before final review. A National Park Service review has acknowledged that the project could adversely affect historic sightlines around several prominent landmarks.

The project is also facing a federal lawsuit brought by three veterans and an architectural historian who argue the administration lacks required congressional authorization. The Justice Department has asked the court to dismiss the case.

The arch is part of a broader push by Trump to leave his mark on Washington, including a new White House ballroom and changes to the Kennedy Center and Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

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