Federal Court: Trump Arch Blocked After Final Vote
Judge Tonya Chutkan issued a temporary restraining order hours after the National Capital Planning Commission approved the 250-foot structure by an 8-4 margin.
By Aiko Sato ·
The National Capital Planning Commission voted to approve a monumental arch in Washington, D.C., on Thursday night. D.C. District Court Judge Tonya S. Chutkan issued a temporary restraining order late that same night, halting construction efforts for at least 14 days.
The commission, led by Trump appointees, cast an 8-4 vote in favor of the project. The decision followed hours of public testimony. Michael Lemmon, a Vietnam veteran and Army veteran, told the panel that the structure would profoundly disturb the peace owed to those buried at Arlington National Cemetery. He described the proposal as frankly blasphemous. Approximately 130 individuals signed up to provide comments before the final vote.
The dispute centers on the arch's location on Columbia Island, directly across the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial. The proposed structure would stand 250 feet high, making it more than twice the height of the Lincoln Memorial and taller than France's Arc de Triomphe. The administration claims the site was authorized over a century ago when Congress approved the initial plan for Memorial Bridge. Opponents argue the administration violated federal law by not seeking specific congressional authorization for the new construction.
A lawsuit filed by Lemmon and two other Vietnam veterans was joined by the governments of D.C. and Virginia. Chutkan consolidated this case with a separate suit filed by an architectural historian. The lawsuit accuses the administration of bypassing necessary legal steps. The judge also ordered the administration to provide at least 30 minutes' notice before any work begins.
The Justice Department informed the court earlier on Thursday that a construction contractor had painted lines on the grounds without authorization from the National Park Service. Administration lawyers stated that the contractor did not have permission to undertake the task. Park Service officials said they might visit the site periodically to prevent unauthorized activity. Planning documents from the Interior Department indicate construction will take place 20 hours per day over the next two to three years.
Commission Chair Mark Paoletta defended the project during the meeting. He stated that the arch would complete a project over a century in the making and honor the nation's veterans. Paoletta also noted that the arch would house drones, snipers, and ammunition, marking a generational security opportunity. Rep. Jared Huffman, the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, clashed with Paoletta during testimony. Huffman said the arch would dishonor America's ideals and laws.
The temporary restraining order pauses the administration's ability to begin construction immediately. The court will review the consolidated lawsuits while the 14-day stay is in effect. The National Capital Planning Commission remains the final federal body required to approve the design before the site can be developed.
