DC, Virginia Sue to Halt Construction of Trump’s Triumphal Arch

The District of Columbia and the State of Virginia are suing to halt the construction of President Donald Trump’s triumphal arch.

The administration has indicated that construction could begin as soon as Nov. 5, contingent on final approvals.

In their complaint, the jurisdictions allege that the project violates the law governing building heights in the nation’s capital, along with statutes requiring federal officials to consider alternatives, assess costs, and consult with affected parties before proceeding.

“In their rush to break ground on the Arch, Defendants have made only half-hearted gestures at complying with these requirements,” lawyers for the two jurisdictions wrote in the complaint.

They also asked the court for a temporary restraining order to stop work while it considers their challenge.

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“This is not the first time that Defendants have rushed to dramatically remake the District too quickly for courts to intervene,” they wrote.

The lawsuit names the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior, along with their respective leaders, Jessica Bowron and Doug Burgum, as defendants.

The National Park Service and the Department of the Interior did not respond to requests for comment on the lawsuit.

The administration has defended the arch as both a national monument and a structure with military uses.

In filings submitted to a federal court on Oct. 28, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin said the arch could help counter drone attacks and serve as a base for surveillance.

“The arch is a generational national defense opportunity to mitigate these evolving threats,” Hegseth wrote, arguing that its proposed height would provide a “significant elevation advantage,” improving sightlines for sensors and security personnel.

Mullin, meanwhile, said the structure would “incorporate a number of features” that could help the Secret Service protect senior government officials.

Trump described similar plans in September, writing on Truth Social that the arch would “house, store, and have the rapid ability to use large numbers of drones, plus Snipers, on both the roof and plaza areas,” along with holding “large quantities of sniper ammunition in storage.”

At 250 feet tall, the arch would be roughly half the size of the Washington Monument and more than double the size of the Lincoln Memorial.

It would also be the tallest of its kind in the world, eclipsing Napoleon Bonaparte’s Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

“Out of the 59 top cities and Capitals, Washington, D.C., IS THE ONLY ONE IN THE WORLD THAT DOES NOT HAVE A TRIUMPHAL ARCH, but it will now be, by far, the greatest of them all!” Trump wrote.

Other Challenges Remain Pending

The latest lawsuit follows a February challenge by three Vietnam War veterans and architectural historian Calder Loth, which argues, in part, that the arch could obstruct the sightline connecting the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.

The arch “would dishonor their military and foreign service and the legacy of their comrades and other veterans buried at Arlington National Cemetery,” they argued.

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who oversees the case, held a hearing on Oct. 30 to consider a request to block construction.

Arlington County’s board filed a separate challenge on Oct. 8. That lawsuit, pending in federal court in Alexandria, focused on the project’s potential impact on traffic, public safety, and historic preservation.