Oppose Wasteful Monument Project on National Mall

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed monument project for the National Mall in Washington D.C. This grandiose neoclassical arch, reportedly championed by President Trump, is an unnecessary and potentially wasteful use of public resources and space. The proposed monument, which has been informally dubbed the "Arc de Trump," would be situated in a traffic circle between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial. Its largest proposed version would dwarf nearby historic structures, including the Lincoln Memorial itself. This scale alone raises serious concerns about the project's appropriateness and its impact on the existing, carefully planned landscape of our nation's capital. What's most troubling is the apparent self-aggrandizing nature of this project. When asked about the monument by journalists, President Trump reportedly referred to it as being for "Me." This statement suggests that the project is more about personal legacy than national commemoration, which is deeply concerning for a taxpayer-funded endeavor. While the White House has framed this as a potential commemoration of the nation's 250th anniversary in 2026, I believe there are far more meaningful and less divisive ways to mark this important milestone. Our focus should be on projects that unite the nation and reflect our shared values, not on constructing oversized monuments that serve individual egos. Furthermore, the process for approving such a significant addition to the National Mall appears to be circumventing normal procedures. Typically, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts would need to approve such a project. However, the commission is currently closed due to a government shutdown, raising questions about proper oversight and public input. I urge you to oppose this monument project and instead advocate for more appropriate and unifying ways to commemorate our nation's upcoming 250th anniversary. Our public spaces and resources should reflect our collective history and aspirations, not serve as platforms for individual aggrandizement. Please work to ensure that any projects proposed for the National Mall undergo proper review, reflect broad public input, and truly serve the interests of all Americans.