U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan issued a temporary restraining order on Thursday night to block the construction of a 250-foot triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery, halting the project just hours after a federal panel voted to approve it.
A 14-day order prevents the Trump administration from beginning any construction-related activity while legal challenges continue. This ruling follows a vote by the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), which approved the monument in an 8-4 decision after nearly nine hours of public testimony, according to Dailymail. During the hearing, administration officials claimed that construction could begin within only 24 hours.
Plaintiffs challenge congressional authority
Three Vietnam War veterans and the watchdog group Public Citizen filed a lawsuit in February arguing the monument lacks required authorization from Congress. MS NOW reported that the plaintiffs wrote: Defendants have barreled ahead, doing site testing, drawing architecture plans, and seeking approvals from commissions populated by friends of the administration.
Yet, throughout this time, Defendants have failed to obtain (or even seek) approval from the one body that, by law, must authorize the project: Congress.
D.C. City Council member Phil Mendelson, who also serves on the planning panel, noted that the project has not received the necessary approval from Congress, nor has Congress appropriated funds for it, according to Juneesoutherncross.
The Trump administration has contested this, pointing to a 1925 plan that proposed two tall columns near the site as evidence of prior authorization.
Design plans conflict with military claims
The proposed structure is an approximately 250-foot-tall reinforced concrete arch clad in stone, featuring a central figure and two eagles positioned above each leg. MS NOW cited project synopses stating the arch would be 166 feet wide with a 55-foot-wide opening, finished with granite.
The project’s intended purpose has become a point of contention. President Trump recently announced the monument would function as a military asset, and would be able to house drones and snipers, according to Juneesoutherncross.
While the President framed the arch as a vital national security asset, the final plans submitted to the Interior Department and the NCPC make no mention of a military complex or national security purposes, MS NOW reported. The President previously said at an event that the arch would serve as a military asset and would be the most beautiful arch in the world.
Monument location threatens historic sightlines and aviation safety
Preservationists and veterans have raised alarms regarding the monument's impact on the historic area. The lawsuit filed by veterans argues that Its location on Memorial Circle would situate the monument on an axis between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, obstructing a line of sight that was designed to represent the unification of the Nation following the Civil War and that has existed for nearly a century,
according to MS NOW.
Aviation safety is another concern. The arch would sit within the flight path to Washington National Airport. Association of Flight Attendants-CWA President Sara Nelson has criticized the project, warning it presents a dangerous obstruction in a congested flight path, MS NOW reported. To address these concerns, architects have proposed adding an eternal flame, following a recommendation from the Federal Aviation Association.
The Arlington County Board in Virginia also opposes the project and sued earlier this month to block construction. That lawsuit alleged the administration was moving too quickly and bypassing the full review process, specifically noting that the National Park Service is proceeding full-speed toward ground-disturbing construction.
Construction schedules and total costs remain uncertain
The administration had previously indicated that once plans were approved, work could commence immediately,
according to MS NOW. However, other projections suggest a much slower start.
- Juneesoutherncross reports that above-ground construction would not start until May 2027 at the earliest.
- The total construction period is expected to last between 33 and 39 months.
- While some estimates have placed the project’s price tag as high as $100 million, the final cost remains unclear, according to Dailymail.
- The Justice Department filed a notice informing Judge Chutkan that a contractor had already performed site preparation work on October 31, which appeared to be done without authorization from the National Park Service.
- An initial phase of construction lasting six to eight months would focus on excavation and foundation work.
Whether Congress will grant the necessary authorization for the project remains unknown.
Earlier coverage: Judge Chutkan Questions National Security Defense For Trump Arch Project