The design concept for the Global War on Terrorism Memorial, unveiled early this week, has been sharply criticized by military veterans and lawmakers from both parties. Critics argue that the abstract amphitheater plan by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma—featuring a reclaimed-steel ribbon covered in vegetation—does not properly honor the 7,000-plus U.S. service members killed since 2001. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) called the design “a disappointing landscape feature better suited to a hotel courtyard or mini golf course,” according to the original report.

Senator Lee's 'Hotel Courtyard' Jab Strikes a Nerve

Sen. Mike Lee’s blunt comparison resonated widely, crystallizing a sense among many veterans that the memorial’s vague form lacks the gravity the subject demands. As the source reports, Lee urged the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation to abandon the current concept and hire an American designer to create “a more fitting tribute.” The senator’s remarks tapped into a deeper frustration: that a generation’s sacrifice could be represented by what he sees as a feature indistinguishable from commercial landscaping.

Van Orden's Bipartisan Pledge to Pull the Plug

Rep. derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.), a retired Navy SEAL, told the foundation he has bipartisan support in both the House and Senate to stop the memorial as designed. Van Orden’s threat of legislative intervention raises a specific, unresolved question:can Congress override a foundation created by law? The Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation was authorized by Congress in 2017 to build on the National Mall, but the design approvaal process is not fully public. The original report did not detail how the foundation selected Kuma or whether lawmakers have a formal veto.

The Unanswered Question: Who Chose Kengo Kuma?

The source contains no explanation of why a Japanese architect was commissioned for a memorial that many believe should reflect an American narrative. Kuma is celebrated for projects such as the V&A Dundee in Scotland and Japan’s National Stadium, but his selection for this commission remains unexplained in the brief. Open questions include: what process led to the choice, how many other firms competed, and whether the foundation consuletd with Gold Star families or Medal of Honor recipients. the design’s abstract ribbon—dubbed the “curled steel ribbon” by Kuma’s studio—has been particularly polarizing, with critics saying its symbolism is lost on the average viewer.

A Pattern of Memorial Design Wars

The controversy echoes earlier battles over abstract memorials in Washington, D.C. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, designed by Maya Lin (an American of Chinese descent), was initially condemned as a “black gash of shame” before becoming one of the most revered monuments on the Mall. but Lin’s minimalism was rooted in the names of the fallen—a concrete, human element. Kuma’s design for the War on Terror memorial reportedly does not yet incoporate individual names, according to the source. That omission, more than any aesthetic disagreement, may prove the central fault line as the foundation faces pressure to revise—or scrap—the current vision.