Justice Department Seeks Dismissal of Lawsuit Over Trump’s Planned Arlington Arch

The Justice Department filed a motion on Tuesday asking a federal judge to dismiss the District of Columbia and Virginia lawsuit that seeks to block President Donald Trump’s proposed 250-foot triumphal arch on a traffic roundabout near Arlington National Cemetery. The states argue the structure would create traffic congestion, impede emergency evacuation routes across the Arlington Memorial Bridge, and violate the District’s Height Act and other statutes.

In its filing, DOJ attorneys contended that the alleged harms, such as traffic disruptions, are theoretical and therefore “too speculative” to establish legal standing. The department also argued that the Height Act, which limits building heights in the capital to 130 feet, should not apply to the arch or similar federal construction projects.

The administration said it hopes to obtain approval from a federal review panel on Thursday and begin construction shortly thereafter. U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan has already imposed strict requirements on the project, including mandatory updates before any construction can start, after earlier judges questioned whether the president is attempting to bypass judicial review for controversial building plans.