2026年6月19日 / 《华盛顿邮报》
批评人士称，政府正在规避一项已塑造华盛顿天际线逾一个世纪的法律。
作者：丹·戴蒙德
特朗普政府辩称，包括唐纳德·特朗普总统备受争议的250英尺高拱门在内的新联邦建筑项目，不受一项将华盛顿多数建筑高度限制在130英尺以内的联邦法律约束。
周四公布的一份内政部备忘录对1910年颁布的《建筑高度法案》提出了新解读，该法案旨在保护首都的历史景观与风貌。长期以来，该法律一直适用于联邦项目，助力维护了华盛顿独特的天际线。
但内政部在备忘录中写道，《建筑高度法案》应被视为主要针对私有财产的地方 zoning 法规，联邦建筑可享有豁免权。这份将于下月联邦委员会就拱门项目举行听证会前公布的备忘录，援引了一系列法规和 zoning 条款作为依据。
“总而言之，联邦建筑不受《建筑高度法案》约束，”备忘录总结道。
这一解读将推翻国家首都规划委员会长期以来的立场，该委员会目前正在审议是否批准特朗普的拱门项目。
政府的新立场还将允许曾在全球各地建造摩天大楼的特朗普，在华盛顿建造任何高耸的联邦建筑。
内政部周四未回应有关备忘录作者以及特朗普是否计划在华盛顿推进其他大型项目的置评请求。
“伟大的国家会打造能够培养民族自豪感和爱国情怀的精美建筑与艺术作品。秉承这一传统，[道格]伯古姆部长非常高兴能支持美国凯旋门项目，这将是一项所有美国人都能为之自豪的工程，”该部门在一份声明中表示。
历史学家、建筑师和民主党人士均表示，《建筑高度法案》应适用于总统的拱门项目，联邦建筑并无特殊豁免权。
“1910年是国会，而非行政部门，决定华盛顿将保持一座横向发展的城市，且国会自此一直保留了这一判断，”国会民主党人周二在写给伯古姆的信中警告他不要建造该拱门。
由特朗普任命的国家首都规划委员会负责人威尔·沙夫曾要求内政部出具这份备忘录，作为委员会审查特朗普拱门项目的一部分。本月早些时候，沙夫曾辩称《建筑高度法案》不应适用于特朗普的拱门项目。
由特朗普安插盟友组成的规划委员会，将于7月9日的会议上审议并有可能批准该拱门项目。
由国会授权负责审查和批准新联邦建筑项目的委员会职业工作人员，曾质疑特朗普的拱门将如何符合《建筑高度法案》的要求。
“国家首都规划委员会一直将《建筑高度法案》适用于联邦项目，”该委员会在一份审查拱门提案的报告中写道。
根据今年4月《华盛顿邮报-ABC新闻-益普索》联合开展的一项民调，多数美国人反对这座计划中的拱门，52%的受访者表示反对，仅有21%表示支持。该项目还面临多名退伍军人提起的诉讼，他们称这座高耸建筑将改变他们游览附近阿灵顿国家公墓的体验。
Trump’s arch — or any federal building — can flout D.C. height law, administration argues
June 19, 2026 / The Washington Post
Critics say the administration is sidestepping a law that has shaped Washington’s skyline for more than a century.
A model of the proposed 250-foot arch. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)
By Dan Diamond
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.
But in its memo, the Interior Department writes that the Height Act should be considered a local zoning law, mostly focused on private property, with exemptions for federal construction. The memo, which was posted ahead of a federal commission’s hearing on the arch next month, cites a series of statutes and zoning provisions.
“In sum, federal buildings are not subject to the [Height of Buildings Act],” the memo concludes.
That interpretation would reverse a long-held stance by the National Capital Planning Commission, which is considering whether to approve Trump’s project.
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.
The Interior Department did not respond to questions Thursday about who authored the memo and whether Trump is planning any additional large projects for Washington.
“Great nations build beautiful structures and works of art that cultivate national pride and love of country. In this tradition, Secretary [Doug] Burgum is thrilled to champion the United States triumphal arch which will be a project that all Americans can be proud of,” the department said in a statement.
Historians, architects and Democrats have said that the Height Act would apply to the president’s arch and that there is no special exemption for federal buildings.
“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 Burgum on Tuesday, warning him against building the arch.
Will Scharf, the Trump-appointed head of the National Capital Planning Commission, had requested the Interior Department memo as part of the commission’s review of Trump’s arch. Scharf had argued earlier this month that the Height Act should not apply to Trump’s arch.
The planning commission, which Trump has packed with allies, is set to review and potentially approve the arch at a July 9 meeting.
Career staff on the commission, which Congress charged with reviewing and approving new federal construction, have questioned how Trump’s arch would comply with the Height Act.
“NCPC has always applied the Height of Buildings Act to federal projects,” the commission’s staff wrote in a report reviewing the arch proposal.
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.
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