Virginia and D.C. Seek Emergency Court Order to Halt Trump Arch Construction
Attorneys general argue the 250-foot structure will cause irreparable harm, with work potentially starting as soon as next week.
By Joao Menon ·
Virginia and the District of Columbia filed a 45-page lawsuit on Saturday to stop construction of a 250-foot triumphal arch proposed by President Donald Trump. The legal action aims to block a project that could begin as early as next week.
Attorneys General Jay Jones of Virginia and Brian Schwalb of the District of Columbia described the project as flagrantly unlawful in documents filed with the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. They contend the arch, situated between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial, will inflict irreparable harm on both jurisdictions.
The lawsuit claims the structure will snarle traffic between the two areas. The proposed arch would stand twice the height of the Lincoln Memorial. Jones and Schwalb noted that both jurisdictions would face severe and unrecoverable costs to assess and mitigate these effects, particularly because the administration refused to adequately consult with them during the approval process.
The Trump administration unveiled plans for the arch in October 2025. Trump previously defended the project as a military complex for weapons and snipers, though the most recent plans under review by the National Capital Planning Commission omit those military elements.
U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkin ordered the parties to meet and agree on a briefing schedule for the motion for a temporary restraining order by Saturday evening. The White House and the Interior Department did not respond to requests for comment on Saturday.
The lawsuit is the latest legal effort to pause the construction of the massive monument.
Source: WUSF Public Media
