Trump's arch clears another hurdle, setting up a big debate: Do height limits apply?
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By Rachel Treisman

Thursday, July 9, 2026 • 8:44 PM EDT

In its quest to build a 250-foot arch near the National Mall, the Trump administration is arguing that a longstanding law restricting building heights in D.C. does not apply — to the project or to any federal structures at all.

The topic resurfaced at Thursday's meeting of the National Capital Planning Commission, the second federal body tasked with reviewing the arch. The first, the Commission of Fine Arts — an aesthetic-focused panel packed entirely with Trump appointees — quickly approved the administration's incomplete design in May.

The National Capital Planning Commission, in contrast, focuses on urban planning issues such as materials, placement and pedestrian safety. One of its three presidential appointees is Will Scharf, chair of the commission , who also serves as White House staff secretary and accompanied Trump on his trip to a NATO summit in Turkey this week.

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