US Fine Arts Commission approves Trump's revised plan for triumphal arch in DC

The U.S. Commission on Fine Arts on Thursday approved updated plans for a triumphal arch that President Donald Trump proposed be built on Memorial Circle in Washington, D.C. 

The commissioners, all of whom were appointed by Trump, had previously approved the concept for the project in April, which is in addition to other renovation projects the president has undertaken, according to the Associated Press. 

The arch would stand 250-feet tall from its base to the top of a torch, which would be held by a Lady Liberty figure. That statute would have two eagles on each side, and four lions would sit at its base. All of these will be gilded. 

"One Nation Under God" and "Liberty and Justice for All" would be inscribed in gold lettering at the top of the monument. The structure would also include an observation deck on top, which would provide views of the surrounding areas. 

Among other concerns, critics of the project have objected to its height, which would rival any other monument in the city, including the Lincoln Memorial. In April, the commission’s vice chairman, architect James McCrery II, objected to the figurines on top, as they add 80 feet to the arch's height. Other critics objected to the inclusion of lions, as they are not native to North America. 

Preliminary surveys and testing of the site began last week.