A soaring triumphal arch that President Donald Trump wants to erect near Arlington National Cemetery would be a “generational defense opportunity” and not merely decorative, two of his Cabinet secretaries argued in court declarations Wednesday.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, in court filings submitted to a federal court hearing a challenge to the project, said the 250-foot arch would be used to counter drone attacks and to serve as a base for snipers.
“The Arch is a generational national defense opportunity to mitigate these evolving threats,” Hegseth said. “It will be utilized as a dual-purpose structure: a major national monument that also incorporates military utility to support Homeland defense.”
Mullin said the Secret Service would be able to use the monument to enhance security for senior government officials through increased monitoring.
The arch, which Trump initially proposed as part of efforts to commemorate the country’s 250th anniversary, has drawn opposition from some lawmakers and veterans groups in part because of its proximity to the hallowed grounds of Arlington.
Both Cabinet members pointed to the arch’s proposed height as an advantage, saying it would contain sensors and communications equipment.
“Its height and strategic location provide enhanced lines of sight from both sensors and personnel, which is critical to C-UAS and other security operations,” Hegseth said, referring to efforts to counter drones and other aerial systems.
The statements were filed in advance of a Friday hearing on whether the White House has the authority to build the monument at the head of the Memorial Bridge over the Potomac River. Judge Tanya S. Chutkan, an Obama appointee, is assigned to the case.
Construction for the arch couldbegin as early as Nov. 5, when the National Capital Planning Commission, a board stacked with Trump officials and allies, convenes to vet the monument’s design. It’s expected to take about three years to complete the project, according to Wednesday court filings by the Trump administration.
Amid opposition to the project, Trump announced in September that he planned to turn the arch into a “top grade Military Complex/Triumphal Arch,” with drones, snipers and ammunition storage.
The project is one of several that Trump has undertaken in an effort to leave an architectural legacy in Washington. He demolished the White House East Wing in 2025 to build a ballroom, which Solicitor General John Sauer told the Supreme Court was part of an “integrated military complex” necessary for the protection of the president and national secrets.
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