Virginia and D.C. File Lawsuit to Halt Construction of Trump Administration's Arch
Virginia and the District of Columbia sued to block a 250-foot triumphal arch proposed by President Donald Trump, citing potential traffic disruption and other harms, while a federal judge set a briefing schedule for a temporary restraining order.
The commonwealth of Virginia and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit on Saturday in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia seeking to stop construction of a 250-foot triumphal arch announced by the Trump administration in October 2025. The attorneys general of the two jurisdictions, Jay Jones and Brian Schwalb, described the project as "flagrantly unlawful" and argued that it would cause "irreparable harm" to the area, including traffic congestion between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial.
"Both jurisdictions will need to take immediate and costly steps to assess, respond to, and mitigate these harmful effects," the lawsuit states. "These costs are severe and unrecoverable—particularly because Defendants have refused to take them into account or adequately consult with either jurisdiction during their hurried and preordained process to approve the Arch and start construction."
The lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order to prevent construction, which could begin as early as next week. The arch, twice the height of the Lincoln Memorial, is slated for review by the National Capital Planning Commission. President Trump has defended the project, previously describing it as a "military complex" for weapons and snipers, though the latest plans omit any military components.
U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkin ordered the parties to negotiate a briefing schedule for the restraining order motion by Saturday evening. Requests for comment from the White House and the Interior Department have not been answered.