Suit Seeks to Halt Construction of Trump's Triumphal Arch Project

Plaintiffs in a lawsuit seeking to block the Trump administration from building a triumphal arch along the Potomac River have asked a federal judge to halt all construction plans. The request comes a day after the National Park Service indicated it intended to begin work on November 5.

The plaintiffs, identified as three veterans and a retired architectural historian, are seeking a court order to prohibit the administration and the National Park Service from taking any steps toward constructing the arch in Memorial Circle without congressional authorization while the litigation is ongoing.

In a notice filed in the lawsuit, the NPS and the executive office of the president stated they might begin construction as early as November 5, pending final approval from the National Capital Planning Commission. The commission is scheduled to consider the site and building plans on that date. According to the government’s notice, construction could commence after the commission’s approval, the Interior Department issues a final construction authorization, and proper notification is published.

The arch has been a noted project of President Donald Trump, who has suggested it could incorporate national security functions. Plans submitted to the National Capital Planning Commission do not explicitly mention the "military complex" Trump has described, though the Interior Department stated the design could accommodate such features. The proposed structure is planned to be 250 feet tall.

The plaintiffs’ filing asserts that the government’s notification demonstrates an intention to commence construction imminently, without awaiting the court's decision on pending motions.

While the arch has received preliminary approval from the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, whose members were appointed by Trump, the plaintiffs argue in their federal court lawsuit that congressional approval is required. The Public Citizen Litigation Group, representing the plaintiffs, has pointed to other projects pursued by the administration that have proceeded despite ongoing legal challenges.

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan has ordered the involved parties to convene and submit a briefing schedule by Friday.

This arch is one of several projects President Trump has initiated in Washington. Earlier this month, plaintiffs in a separate lawsuit concerning renovations to the East Potomac Park golf course argued that construction plans were imminent despite ongoing litigation.

The lawsuit in Washington is one of two challenging the arch's construction. The Arlington County Board in Virginia also filed a lawsuit, criticizing the pace of the project's review process. The administration has disputed these claims.