A federal judge blocked construction of President Donald Trump’s proposed 250-foot triumphal arch late on Thursday, just two hours after a federal planning commission gave the project its final approval.
US District Judge Tanya Chutkan issued a 14-day temporary restraining order barring the government from any construction work at Memorial Circle in Washington, granting a request filed by the governments of Washington DC and Virginia. Her order came less than two hours after the National Capital Planning Commission voted 8-4 to approve the arch.
Approval, then an immediate halt
The commission heard nearly eight hours of impassioned testimony from veterans, lawmakers, residents and preservation groups opposed to the structure before voting in favour. The 250-foot arch would stand in Memorial Circle, a traffic island on the bridge linking the Lincoln Memorial to Arlington National Cemetery, where hundreds of thousands of American service members are buried.
Administration officials had said work would take place 20 hours a day, year-round, for two to three years, and that excavation and foundation work could begin as soon as Thursday once the Interior Department issued authorisation. Judge Chutkan’s order prohibits the government from “initiating, making, or otherwise effectuating any construction, excavation, demolition, land-disturbance, utility-installation, or roadway-closure activity” at or near the site.
The legal fight ahead
Lawsuits filed by three Vietnam War veterans, Arlington County officials and the attorneys general of DC and Virginia argue the arch lacks proper congressional approval, will impede Arlington National Cemetery and creates environmental and safety issues. The administration points to a 1925 law tied to the Arlington Memorial Bridge as its authority.
In a 33-page opinion, Judge Chutkan scrutinised the administration’s competing justifications — particularly its sudden emphasis on national security — and agreed the local governments are likely to be harmed by construction. She ordered the government to file a status report by Monday certifying compliance. The final cost is unknown, but estimates place it at around $100 million. The ruling does not permanently cancel the project, but further hearings will determine whether the block is extended.
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