US judge temporarily blocks Trump's arch project after panel approval

A United States federal judge issued a temporary restraining order on Friday, preventing President Donald Trump's administration from commencing work on a proposed 250-foot memorial arch within two weeks. This decision came shortly after the project received approval from a public commission, marking a setback for one of Trump's most ambitious plans to transform the US capital according to his vision.

The administration argues that Congress sanctioned the monument's construction over a century ago, envisioning two substantial columns to represent the northern and southern states in the US Civil War. However, this arch project deviates significantly from that original plan, proposing a much larger structure at a prime location in the nation's capital.

US District Judge Tanya Chutkan issued the order, expressing skepticism about the apparent authority granted by a 100-year-old statute to erect such a prominent arch. She highlighted the government's efforts to justify this project, deeming it highly improbable that a century-old law would contain such unknown authority to build a 250-foot monument in one of the country's most significant locations.