The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts voted Thursday to advance President Donald Trump’s proposed 250-foot Triumphal Arch on Columbia Island near the National Mall and Arlington National Cemetery.

The seven-member commission, appointed by Trump after he replaced the previous panel in October 2025, approved the concept design for the arch, which would commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026. The project now moves forward for further review and potential revisions.

The arch, designed by the firm Harrison Design, would be taller than Paris’ Arc de Triomphe and feature two eagles and a winged, crowned figure reminiscent of the Statue of Liberty. One side would read “One Nation Under God,” and the other “With Liberty and Justice for All.”

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Lead architect Nicolas Charbonneau told the commission the height honors the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said in a statement to NPR that the arch “is going to be one of the most iconic landmarks not only in Washington, D.C., but throughout the world.”

“It will enhance the visitor experience at Arlington National Cemetery for veterans, the families of the fallen, and all Americans alike, serving as a visual reminder of the noble sacrifices borne by so many American heroes throughout our 250 year history so we can enjoy our freedoms today,” Ingle wrote in an email to NPR.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday that the arch would celebrate “the enduring triumph of the American spirit.”

The project has not gone without criticism. A group of Vietnam War veterans filed suit in February, arguing that congressional approval is required.

Architecture critic Catesby Leigh, who originally proposed a smaller arch no taller than 60 feet, called the final design “way too big for that site,” The New York Times reported. Retired architectural historian Calder Loth, a plaintiff in the lawsuit, said the arch would be “a rude interruption” at Arlington National Cemetery, reported The New York Times.

The Commission of Fine Arts noted that nearly all of the roughly 1,000 public comments submitted before the vote opposed the arch and its scale.

The arch would be the centerpiece of broader 250th anniversary events organized by Freedom 250, the nonprofit Trump created to carry out his vision for the celebration. The group announced on Wednesday that the Great American State Fair will run from June 25 through July 10 on the National Mall from the U.S. Capitol to the Washington Monument.

The 16-day event will feature pavilions from all 56 states and territories, a 110-foot Ferris wheel, the refurbished Smithsonian Carousel, livestock competitions, rodeo-style events, live music, and hands-on exhibits. Daily themes range from “Military & Veterans Appreciation Day” on June 28 to “Independence Day Celebration” on July 4, which will include a fireworks display. A smaller replica of the proposed triumphal arch is planned for the fairgrounds.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the National Mall “will once again serve as the stage for telling our nation’s story,” reported Fox 5.

“Thanks to President Donald J. Trump’s leadership, the Great American State Fair will bring all 56 states and territories together in one place, showcasing the people, landscapes, and traditions that define this country,” Burgum added, Fox 5 reported.

Admission to the fair is free, though advance registration is encouraged.

It remains unclear when or whether the full-scale triumphal arch will be built. The Trump administration has not released a cost estimate, though the National Endowment for the Humanities is reserving $15 million for the project. Officials say a mix of public and private funding is expected, with groundbreaking possibly this summer and completion targeted before the end of Trump’s term.