New administration memo argues Trump can destroy DC skyline if he wants to

Over the course of his second term, President Donald Trump has been focused on his wide-ranging vanity projects above almost anything else. While some of his efforts have encountered obstacles due to building regulations, his administration is now attempting a new argument to skirt one rule in particular, essentially asserting that, as the government, they can build whatever they want — even if it destroys the historic D.C. skyline.

As the Washington Post reports, “The Trump administration is arguing that new federal construction projects — including President Donald Trump’s controversial 250-foot arch — are not subject to a federal law that restricts most construction in Washington to a maximum height of 130 feet. An Interior Department memo posted Thursday offers a new interpretation of the Height of Buildings Act, which was enacted in 1910 to preserve the capital city’s historical views and character. The law has traditionally been applied to federal projects, helping preserve Washington’s distinctive skyline.”

In the memo, however, Interior officials argue that the Height Act should be considered a local zoning law focusing on private property that doesn’t impact federal construction.

“That interpretation would reverse a long-held stance by the National Capital Planning Commission, which is considering whether to approve Trump’s project,” explained the Post. “The administration’s new stance also would allow Trump — who has built skyscrapers across the world — to build any tall federal structure in Washington, too.”

Historians, architects, and Democratic lawmakers disagree.

“Congress, not the Executive, decided in 1910 that Washington would remain a horizontal city, and Congress has preserved that judgment ever since,” congressional Democrats wrote to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum on Tuesday, warning him against building the arch.

The National Planning Capital Commission, which the Post notes Trump has “packed with allies,” is meeting on July 9th to potentially approve the arch. Career staff on the commission who were not appointed by Trump have argued that the Height Act should apply, reminding in a recent report that “NCPC has always applied the Height of Buildings Act to federal projects.” The president’s commission head appointee, Will Scharf, however, has suggested otherwise, and it was he who requested that the memo be drafted and distributed to the Interior Department.

According to the Post, “Most Americans oppose the planned arch, with 52 percent against it and 21 percent in favor, according to a Washington Post-ABC-Ipsos poll conducted in April. The project is also facing a lawsuit brought by several military veterans who say the towering structure would alter their visiting experience to nearby Arlington National Cemetery.”

Trump’s vanity projects have encountered a number of problems recently, such as his effort to restore the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Peeling paint and green algae blooms have marred the pool over the course of the project, amid accusations that Trump used no-bid contractors with ties to him politically, including his Mar-a-Lago neighbor.

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