# Trump's Arch to Get Snipers, Drones; Critics Call It Risky

- URL: https://twotakes.us/stories/trumps-arch-to-get-snipers-drones-critics-call-it-risky
- Published: 2026-09-26T07:12:45.117658+00:00
- Topics: trump-administration, military, washington-dc, aviation-safety, historic-preservation

## What the left says
- Placing a military complex with snipers and drone capability just miles from Reagan National Airport raises serious safety concerns, especially so soon after the 2025 midair collision near that same airport.
- The administration's decision to terminate historic preservation consultations, overriding objections from Washington and Virginia preservation officers, short-circuits a legally required process meant to protect nearby historic sites like Arlington National Cemetery.
- Critics see the project as an expensive vanity monument that diverts attention and resources from more pressing government priorities.
- Bypassing normal oversight and consultation processes to fast-track construction sets a troubling precedent for how major federal projects near sensitive sites are approved.

## What the right says
- The FAA has already reviewed the arch's height and location and concluded it poses no risk to flights at Reagan National Airport, addressing the core safety objection directly.
- A functional military complex integrated into a monumental structure reflects practical, efficient use of federal space rather than pure symbolism.
- Ending a stalled consultation process allows a legitimately planned project to move forward after preservation officers refused to approve mitigation plans, avoiding indefinite bureaucratic delay.
- The arch stands as a proud national monument, and framing it dismissively as an 'ego project' overlooks its intended role in commemorating military achievement.

## Common ground
- The arch is planned to stand 250 feet tall near Arlington National Cemetery and roughly 4 miles from Reagan Washington National Airport.
- The FAA has determined the structure would not pose a risk to nearby flight paths.
- The 2025 midair collision near Reagan National Airport remains a relevant reference point in discussions of aviation safety in the area.
- Local preservation officers in Washington and Virginia have not signed off on plans addressing the arch's potential impact on nearby historic sites.

## Sources
- [Forbes](https://www.forbes.com/sites/zacharyfolk/2026/09/20/trump-says-triumphal-arch-could-have-snipers-on-top/) (Lean Right)
- [BBC News](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq0lrr8kxy0lo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss) (Center)
- [Newsmax](https://www.newsmax.com/politics/tammy-duckworth-air-safety-faa/2026/09/25/id/1270740) (Right)
- [The Hill](https://thehill.com/policy/defense/6111846-duckworth-pentagon-faa-trumps-dc-arch/) (Center)
- [The Hill](https://thehill.com/policy/defense/6110787-trump-arch-military-complex-pushback/) (Center)
- [The Hill](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/6110400-beyer-claims-illegal-activity-trump-arch/) (Center)
- [Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/09/24/trump-is-plowing-ahead-with-an-unpopular-arch/) (Lean Left)
- [Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/09/24/trump-officials-end-review-how-arch-could-harm-historic-sites/) (Lean Left)
- [The Economist](https://www.economist.com/united-states/2026/06/08/the-ageing-protesters-trying-to-topple-washingtons-ego-arch) (Lean Right)

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