# Trump's arch becomes military drone complex

> Trump pivots his Washington monument plan to house drones and snipers, citing national security.
- Title: Trump's arch becomes military drone complex · NBC News
- Summary: Trump pivots his Washington monument plan to house drones and snipers, citing national security. Trump reframed a controversial D.C. arch project as a…
- Keywords: donald trump, washington dc, triumphal arch, military complex, drones, national security, white house construction, pentagon, lincoln memorial, arlington national cemetery, politics, news
- Source: NBC News — https://nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-proposed-arch-military-complex-housing-drones-snipers-rcna598770
- Author: Megan Brand
- Published: 2026-09-20T16:11:10.747+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: donald trump, washington dc, triumphal arch, military complex, drones, national security, white house construction, pentagon, lincoln memorial, arlington national cemetery, politics, news
## Trump converts arch to military complex
Trump announced Sunday he would transform plans for a Washington D.C. triumphal arch into a military facility to house drones, snipers, and ammunition storage.

> house, store, and have the rapid ability to use large numbers of drones, plus Snipers, on both the roof and plaza areas
## Pentagon offers no additional comment
A Pentagon spokesperson declined to provide details beyond Trump's announcement, and the White House also refused to elaborate on the revised plans.
## This marks a major shift in timeline
The Trump administration had announced earlier this month it would break ground in the coming weeks, making this military conversion a significant last-minute change.
## Trump uses national security for projects
This is the second time Trump has framed a controversial D.C. construction project as a national security matter. He previously claimed White House ballroom construction required military protection.
## Ballroom project survived legal challenge
The Supreme Court ruled in late August that the White House ballroom construction could proceed indefinitely, rejecting a National Trust for Historic Preservation lawsuit that challenged Trump's authority.
## Arch already cleared key approvals
The 250-foot arch between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery has passed the Commission of Fine Arts, National Capital Planning Commission, and Federal Aviation Administration reviews.
## Virginia congressman calls plan dangerous
Rep. Don Beyer, whose district includes Arlington National Cemetery, called the drone site plan stupid and dangerous, noting it sits in the landing path for Reagan National Airport.

> Putting a drone launching site directly in the landing path for DCA is a stupid, dangerous, and unworkable idea
## Key takeaway

Trump reframed a controversial D.C. arch project as a military facility to house drones and snipers, a tactic he's used before to push through contested construction.