WASHINGTON — The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, representing 55,000 flight attendants across 20 airlines, has raised safety concerns about President Donald Trump’s proposed 250-foot triumphal arch near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). The union, led by President Sara Nelson, cited unresolved safety issues from a January 2025 plane crash over the Potomac River that killed 67 people, as well as the Trump administration’s plan to convert the arch into a military complex capable of housing drones, snipers, and ammunition storage.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had previously stated in a preliminary assessment that the arch would not pose a hazard to aircraft if appropriately marked, including with a non-standard eternal flame and floodlighting. However, Nelson emphasized that the military conversion—announced by Trump in a social media post last month—introduced new risks, including potential interference with commercial flight paths. "DCA is already stretched to its limit," Nelson said. "We do not need an obstacle taking up space in our flight path. Nor should commercial aviation have to dodge military drones, missiles, or snipers while attempting to take off or land."
The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, whose members were all appointed by Trump, granted early approval for the arch’s design. However, a lawsuit filed last month by three veterans and an architectural historian argues that the project requires Congressional approval due to its impact on historic sightlines in Washington, D.C. The lawsuit challenges the arch’s placement, citing potential disruptions to symbolic views between landmarks such as the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument.
Critics, including veterans’ groups and members of Congress, have also expressed concerns about the arch’s military function, arguing that it could militarize a historically civilian space. Supporters of the project, including the Commission of Fine Arts, have not publicly addressed the military conversion or the ongoing litigation. The FAA’s preliminary assessment remains the only official evaluation of the arch’s aviation safety impact to date.