A federal historic preservation council led by President Donald Trump's appointees abruptly called off a review with local governments of a planned 250-foot arch in Washington, D.C.
The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation said it would stop consulting with officials in the nation's capital and Virginia about how the arch could affect nearby historic sites, including Arlington National Cemetery, Robert E. Lee's former home and memorials on the National Mall, reported Politico.
The decision came after historic preservation officials in both jurisdictions refused to approve a National Park Service plan to reduce the arch's harm to historic properties. In letters sent Monday, they called the Park Service's push to finalize the plan "premature" and urged the agency to wait until the project's effects are better understood.
Preservation experts said ending consultation is rare, and it is especially unusual for the advisory council itself to step in and cut off talks, rather than the agency planning the project.
"This is the government saying, 'It's our way or the highway,'" said Charles Birnbaum, president and CEO of the Cultural Landscape Foundation. "'We know best, and we're going to build what we want.'"
The council is an independent agency that advises presidents and Congress on historic preservation law and sometimes settles disputes over federal projects. Trump removed six members appointed by Democratic presidents before their terms ended and replaced them with his own picks.
Roger Kirchen, director of Virginia's Department of Historic Resources, said the agency was "still assessing the situation and will be engaging the ACHP on next steps." The D.C. State Historic Preservation Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The council has given the public until midnight Sept. 29 to comment on the arch, less than a week away. It will send its own comments to the Interior Department by Oct. 7. Once Interior responds, the review will be considered finished.
The arch would stand about two and a half times as tall as the nearby Lincoln Memorial. The Park Service's own assessment found that dozens of historic properties would be harmed by blocked views and altered sight lines.
The project still needs approval from the National Capital Planning Commission, which is led by Trump appointees who back the arch.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation said the mitigation plan will need to be redone entirely now that Trump has announced the arch will double as a military complex with ammunition storage and snipers.
A veterans group and others have sued to stop the project. A federal judge has ordered Interior to give 14 days' notice before any construction begins.
