Donald Trump announced plans to convert his proposed 250-foot triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery into a military complex equipped with drones, snipers, and ammunition storage.
The redesign appears to be an effort to secure funding from a skeptical Congress by framing the controversial project as a national defense priority.
Trump previously employed a similar tactic with a contested White House ballroom project, attempting to rebrand it as a military installation after Congress refused funding.
The triumphal arch faces lawsuits from legal groups, Democrats, and veterans' organizations who contend it lacks congressional approval and damages the cemetery's historical landscape.
A federal judge recently reaffirmed an order requiring the administration to give 48 hours' notice to the court before beginning any construction at the site.
IN FULL
Trump says 250-foot arch will now be a military complex for attack drones, snipers and ammo
