Judge Halts Trump Arch Construction After 8-4 Committee Vote
A temporary restraining order stops work for 14 days following a contentious National Capital Planning Commission decision.
By Simon Bennett ·
Washington, D.C. District Court Judge Tonya S. Chutkan issued a temporary restraining order late Thursday, pausing the federal government's efforts to begin construction on President Donald Trump’s proposed triumphal arch for at least 14 days. The order came hours after the National Capital Planning Commission voted 8-4 to grant final approval to the project.
Chutkan granted the request from the District of Columbia and Virginia governments to halt the administration's immediate move to start building. The judge also consolidated the case with a separate lawsuit filed by three Vietnam War veterans and an architectural historian. The lawsuit argues that the Trump administration violated federal law by failing to seek specific congressional authorization for the structure.
The proposed arch stands 250 feet tall, making it more than twice the height of the 99-foot Lincoln Memorial and taller than France's Arc de Triomphe. It would be built on Columbia Island across the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial. The site is adjacent to Arlington National Cemetery, where many of the objectors reside or hold service records.
Michael Lemmon, a Vietnam War veteran and Army veteran who later worked in the foreign service, led the legal challenge. During public testimony before the commission, Lemmon stated that the arch would "profoundly disturb the peace and tranquility" owed to those buried nearby. He called the project "frankly blasphemous." Approximately 130 people signed up to provide comments before the final vote.
NCPC Chair Mark Paoletta defended the plan, describing it as the completion of a project authorized by Congress over 100 years ago. Paoletta, who serves as the General Counsel for the Office of Management and Budget, said the arch would honor veterans and provide a monumental gateway for the cemetery. He also noted that the structure would house drones, snipers, and ammunition, marking a security opportunity for the capital.
Tensions rose during the hearing when Rep. Jared Huffman, R-Calif., clashed with Paoletta. Huffman argued the arch would dishonor America's ideals and laws. Paoletta challenged Huffman's knowledge of the island's history, leading Huffman to respond, "If you want to make that argument to a federal court, go for it. You're going to lose." The Justice Department told the court that a contractor had prematurely painted lines on the grounds, though the agency said the contractor lacked authorization from the National Park Service.
Planning documents from the Interior Department indicate that construction is scheduled to take place 20 hours a day over the next two to three years. The judge overseeing the lawsuit ordered the administration to provide at least 30 minutes' notice before any work begins on the site.
