Washington: President Donald Trump said Sunday that his planned 250-foot memorial arch near Arlington National Cemetery would also serve as a military facility capable of housing drones and snipers and storing ammunition.

Trump said the decision to add the military function to the proposed arch was made at the request of the military. The announcement is the latest instance of Trump describing major projects in Washington as having a national security or defensive purpose.

The arch is planned for Memorial Circle near the Memorial Bridge, between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. The proposed 250-foot structure would stand near one of the main routes connecting Washington with northern Virginia.

In a social media post, Trump said he had agreed, at the “strong request” of the military, to convert the planned 250-foot-tall (76-meter) memorial arch “into a top grade Military Complex/Triumphal Arch, to house, store, and have the rapid ability to use large numbers of drones, plus Snipers, on both the roof and plaza areas, and additionally have and hold large quantities of sniper ammunition in storage.”

Trump has previously described the planned White House ballroom as a “military complex” and argued that such infrastructure is necessary for national security.

The arch project is also facing legal challenges. Three veterans and an architectural historian have sued over the proposal, arguing that the project requires approval from Congress. The project has received preliminary approval from the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, whose members were appointed by Trump, but it still requires final approval from the National Capital Planning Commission.

The National Capital Planning Commission approved the site and preliminary plans at a July meeting and is expected to consider the project again later this year. Administration officials have indicated that final approval could come in November.

The arch is one of several projects Trump is pursuing as part of his plans to reshape Washington. Other initiatives include a new White House ballroom, changes to the Kennedy Center, renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and redevelopment of a golf course in East Potomac Park.

The Federal Aviation Administration recently determined that the proposed arch would not pose a hazard to aircraft, provided it includes an illuminated feature, including an “eternal flame”, to make the structure visible to pilots.