D.C. arch does not need Congress' approval, Trump says

President Donald Trump's plan for a 250-foot triumphal arch in the Washington, D.C., area moved one step closer to reality Thursday.

The U.S. Commission on Fine Arts, whose members were entirely appointed by Trump, approved the design for the arch set to be constructed on a traffic circle between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.

After a reporter told Trump about the commission's vote, the president called the result "fantastic."

The 250-foot arch project is one of several the president has pursued to leave his mark on the nation's capital.

A group of Vietnam War veterans is seeking to block the arch's construction with a lawsuit. The veterans argue that according to the Commemorative Works Act of 1986, building the arch requires authorization from Congress.

Trump, on the other hand, told reporters Thursday that the land is owned by the Interior Department. "We don't need anything from Congress," he said.

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