1. United States
2. Ala.
3. Letter

I ask you to oppose the funding and construction of Trump's vanity arch and conduct a full congressional review of the project under the Commemorative Works Act. This monument to one man is unnecessary and an insult to the 400,000 service members laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. Despite a lack of public support, Trump will not be deterred from continuing his authoritarian makeover of Washington D.C.—and that includes his plan to build the tallest triumphal arch in the world. The proposed 250-foot structure that would stand between the Lincoln Memorial and the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery, has drawn harsh criticism from military families, veterans, lawmakers, and the general public. Even the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA), stacked with Trump’s own appointees, couldn’t find public support for it. Its secretary said of about 1,000 comments it received on the proposal earlier this year, “100 percent” were opposed. In an attempt to weaken protections for all historic sites, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, where Trump appointees control 20 of 24 seats, are voting on proposed revisions to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. These changes would clear more hurdles for the project by redefining what properties can be considered historic, making public comment on new projects optional, and removing the requirement to consult with Native American tribes. Due to its location and scale, the arch would sever the sightline between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington House, a view deliberately designed to symbolize national unity after the Civil War. But under the proposed changes to Section 106, the arch’s disruption of historic views would not be considered part of the review. When asked last year who the arch is actually for, Trump answered honestly: “Me.” I demand that you oppose funding and approval for the arch and conduct full congressional review of the project under the Commemorative Works Act.