Veterans ask federal judge to block Trump's arch unless Congress approves it
The Justice Department said Wednesday construction will begin on Nov. 5.
Construction of a colossal arch in Washington, proposed by President Donald Trump, may proceed despite ongoing legal challenges, according to a recent court filing. The massive structure, located along the Potomac River near Arlington National Cemetery, aims to showcase Trump's personal touch on the US capital. The filing revealed that construction could commence as early as November 5, coinciding with a vote by a Trump-aligned commission on the project's proposed site and building plans.
Spanning 76 meters, the triumphal white arch would dwarf the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and be adorned with gold statues of an angel and eagles at its summit. The project's height would disrupt sightlines between the historic Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, the final resting place of thousands of American service members.
In September, US District Judge Tanya Chutkan mandated the Trump administration to provide 48 hours' notice before any activity on the site related to or in preparation for the arch's construction. The lawsuit, filed in February by Vietnam War veterans, argued that such a massive undertaking necessitates congressional approval. Since returning to office in 2025, Trump, a former real estate mogul, has initiated numerous renovation projects, several of which have faced legal disputes.
These include a costly ballroom at the White House, a threatened redesign of the Kennedy Center, and the East Potomac Golf Links, where legal setbacks arose after hundreds of trees were removed.
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