A U.S. federal arts advisory body, now entirely staffed by appointees loyal to President Donald Trump, has given preliminary approval this Thursday to plans for the commander-in-chief’s proposed massive triumphal arch — a project already mired in legal battles and fierce public controversy. The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, whose entire sitting board was dismissed by the administration last year to make way for White House-aligned replacements, approved the design in a unanimous 4-0 vote. The proposed structure stands planned at 250 feet, or 76 meters, tall, and will feature gilded statues of an angel and American eagles at its peak. If built as currently designed, it will surpass Paris’ iconic Arc de Triomphe, which stands 164 feet tall, to claim the title of the world’s largest arch, per Trump’s own remarks. The proposed site for the monument sits just outside the boundaries of Arlington National Cemetery, one of the most sacred public lands in the United States, where hundreds of thousands of U.S. military veterans and service members are laid to rest. The arch project is one of several high-profile construction initiatives Trump has pushed forward in Washington D.C., part of his broader push to leave a lasting physical legacy on the U.S. capital before the end of his term. Created by an act of Congress in 1910, the Commission of Fine Arts is composed of professional architects and urban planners tasked with advising on design and historic preservation for federal buildings and monuments in Washington’s highly regulated core public spaces. Unlike most major public monument projects in the capital, the Trump arch initiative has moved forward without any consultation or approval from Congress, a choice that has sparked sharp criticism from opponents. When pressed by reporters on Thursday about the lack of congressional oversight, Trump pushed back firmly, telling journalists “We’re doing it… we don’t need anything from Congress.” The push for the arch follows a similar pattern to Trump’s ongoing renovation of the White House ballroom, which has already seen the historic East Wing gutted to make way for the changes. Multiple advocacy groups, including organizations representing Vietnam War veterans, have already filed lawsuits seeking to block the project entirely. Plaintiffs argue that the development violates federal procedural requirements for changes to land near Arlington National Cemetery, and would permanently disrupt the protected scenic viewshed around the hallowed burial ground. A second oversight panel, also controlled by Trump appointees, is scheduled to hold its own review of the arch proposal on June 4, which will mark the next key step for the controversial project moving forward.