Aviation experts warn that adding a massive arch over the bridge connecting Washington, D.C., to Arlington, Va., would increase the danger for aircraft flying through an already busy sky. The Trump administration has proposed building a 250-foot arch above the historic crossing, and Rep. Don Beyer, the Democratic representative for that part of Virginia, says the structure could turn into a disaster waiting to happen.
Beyer explained to NPR that the location atop Memorial Circle, a traffic island on the bridge, sees an enormous number of airplanes every day. DCA sits roughly two aeronautical miles away, and its main runway is one of the busiest in the country.
“Just imagine the disaster that could happen with all of these airplanes coming right across a 250-foot-high arch,” he said.
The FAA’s Preliminary Report
The FAA’s initial June report concluded that the arch would probably not present a problem so long as it carries the same kind of blinking red obstruction lighting that sits atop the 555-foot-tall Washington Monument. A more thorough investigation is ongoing, and it could eventually classify the arch as “a hazard.”.
An FAA spokesperson told NPR over email in early September that “the standard obstruction evaluation process is under way,” including for construction cranes that could reach up to 320 feet tall. Neither the FAA nor the White House provided a timeline or further details on the reviews.
The three aviation safety experts consulted by NPR say the arch most likely would not pose a significant risk to most aircraft. Still, it adds another variable to D.C.’s crowded airspace.
“It’s a small airport with one runway, nestled in a metropolitan area that’s surrounded by prohibited airspace [near the White House and U.S. Capitol].”
A retired accident investigator for both the NTSB and FAA, Jeff Guzzetti, is familiar with the airport’s history. That is the source of his perspective on the matter.
The Experts’ Concerns
Shawn Pruchnicki, a former airline pilot and accident investigator teaching at Ohio State University, took a sharper stance. He called the arch “inherently dangerous.” He added: “This is an unbelievably ridiculous idea, to put this arch so close to this airport just for the sake of his personal needs,” referring to Trump.
Trump first described the arch as something built for himself, but later described it as a tribute to the country’s questions about expert concerns’s 250th anniversary. The White House has said it will be “one of the most iconic landmarks not only in Washington, D.C., but throughout the world” and did not respond to NPR’.
Beyer has not encountered a resident of his district — regardless of party — who supports the arch’s construction, and he said the worry centers on “beyond his narcissism … is what it will do to transportation,” which refers to planes and cars.
The Airport’s Limits
According to Guzzetti, DCA opened in 1941 and is “never meant … to have this amount of traffic,”. It was built to handle roughly 15 million passengers annually, yet currently serves nearly 25 million.
Tom Lintner, who spent 30 years in aviation safety at the FAA, including as an air traffic controller at LaGuardia Airport, explained the pressure. “As the traffic gets denser and denser, you may find controllers having to make transmissions every five, six, seven seconds. There reaches a point where there aren’t enough seconds left to make the right decision.”
The issue at its heart concerns the airspace above D.C., which is already crowded with aircraft. Placing a permanent obstruction that exceeds the height of many buildings adds another hazard for pilots navigating a space that is already constrained.
The Collision That Changed Rules
The January 2025 midair collision between an American Airlines regional jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter killed 67 people, leading to a slew of rule changes and helicopter restrictions.
In early August, a military helicopter carrying President Trump flew briefly over Washington, D.C., coming near something above the city.
The Political Fight
Two Democratic senators from Virginia introduced a bill last week capping hourly arrivals and reducing flights over a four-year window starting in 2028. Sen. Mark Warner, a co-sponsor, said in a statement: “Since the collision, there have been numerous near misses in DCA airspace.”
The federal planning commission has not given its approval for the arch, and preservation experts say the review process has moved too fast. A legal case says the structure cannot be built without Congressional authorization, something Trump denies and has not pursued. NPR was told that the administration continues “seeking final approval from all applicable entities.”.
No supporter has come forward yet, according to Beyer, who says he has not heard from a single constituent backing the project.
What Comes Next
Earlier this month, the administration announced plans to start preliminary excavation work at Memorial Circle, moving forward with the project despite unresolved concerns about aviation safety and other issues. The FAA’s full study remains unfinished, and the experts NPR spoke with have not altered their position that the arch increases risk, even when lighting is handled correctly.
According to the FAA’s preliminary determination, the arch would likely not be an issue so long as it keeps its blinking red obstruction lights at the top. The experts NPR spoke with said the arch itself most likely would not pose a significant risk to most aircraft, though it does add another variable to D.C.’s already crowded airspace.
The White House has stated that the arch will be “one of the most iconic landmarks not only in Washington, D.C., but throughout the world.”. It is an assertion about appearance, not about any danger.
NPR’s experts have made their warnings clear about the dangers involved. The FAA continues its study into the matter. The administration has decided to push ahead with the digging work. Beyer has heard from his constituents on the subject.
Where the paper stands
The paper backs Rep. Don Beyer’s warning against the arch and is against the Trump administration’s proposal to build the structure, which aviation experts say would increase risk in an already busy airspace. The administration’s plan gathers power around one person’s vanity project, and it treats the sky above D.C. as a personal playground rather than a shared public resource.
The arch would sit atop Memorial Circle, a traffic island on the bridge, in airspace that already carries an enormous number of airplanes every day. DCA sits roughly two aeronautical miles away, and its main runway is one of the busiest in the country. The FAA’s preliminary report concluded that the arch would probably not present a problem so long as it carries the same kind of blinking red obstruction lighting that sits atop the 555-foot-tall Washington Monument, but a more thorough investigation is ongoing, and it could eventually classify the arch as “a hazard.” The administration has not provided a timeline or further details on the reviews, leaving pilots and residents to guess at the outcome.
The paper wants the administration to stop treating the sky as a trophy cabinet and listen to the experts who actually understand the danger involved. The FAA’s study should be completed before any digging begins, and the administration should respect the legal case saying the structure cannot be built without Congressional authorization. Beyer has heard from his constituents on the subject, and none have come forward to support the project. The paper backs him in his warning.
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