Oregon Sen. Merkley takes aim at President Trump after announcement of massive 250-foot arch, accuses him of spending Americans’ tax dollars on a monument to his ego

Oregon – Sen. Jeff Merkley criticized President Donald Trump after the administration announced plans to begin excavation work for a massive 250-foot Great Triumphal Arch in Washington, D.C., arguing that Trump is focusing on a monument to himself while Americans continue to face high prices for gas and groceries.

“The price of gas and groceries are through the roof, and what’s Trump focused on? Spending your tax dollars on a monument to his ego. Just wrong,” Merkley wrote.

Merkley’s comments came after Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced that excavation work for the proposed Great Triumphal Arch and Military Observation Deck would begin over a two-week period at Memorial Circle on Columbia Island, between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.

“We are pleased to announce that after a very long wait (over 125 years!), we are preparing to start, over the next two-week period, the excavation work necessary for the Great Triumphal Arch and Military Observation Deck,” Burgum said in his announcement.

The proposed structure would stand about 250 feet tall and feature a design inspired by monumental triumphal arches. According to Reuters, the administration has promoted the project as a tribute to American history and veterans, with Burgum describing it as a major piece of American architecture befitting Washington, D.C.

The location has become a major point of controversy. The arch is planned for an area near Arlington National Cemetery and directly across the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial. Opponents argue that the massive structure could interfere with historic views between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington House, while supporters say the monument would honor the sacrifices of American veterans, per reports.

Photo Courtesy – Secretary Doug Burgum (@SecretaryBurgum) via X

The project also remains the subject of a federal legal challenge. Three veterans and an architectural historian have sued the administration, arguing that the proposed monument lacks the necessary congressional authorization. The administration has disputed those claims and argued that earlier congressional authorization for a memorial at the site provides a legal basis for the project.

The proposed arch has also not received final approval from the National Capital Planning Commission. Because the structure would exceed Washington’s general 130-foot building height limit, the project requires the commission to consider whether an exception can be granted.

A federal judge overseeing the lawsuit has also imposed requirements concerning work at the site. The administration previously agreed to provide advance notice before beginning construction, while the court has continued to oversee the dispute as the project moves forward.

Despite the legal and regulatory issues, the Trump administration has continued advancing the project, with Burgum announcing that excavation would begin soon.

Merkley, meanwhile, framed the proposed monument as evidence of misplaced priorities, contrasting the administration’s focus on the arch with what he described as the continuing burden of high gas and grocery prices.

The Great Triumphal Arch is part of a broader effort by Trump to reshape prominent areas of Washington during his second term, alongside other major projects involving the White House and several federal landmarks.