Judge Halts Trump Arch Construction After Commission Vote

The proposed memorial arch on Columbia Island has been stalled by a court order less than four hours after a federal board gave it final approval. D.C. District Court Judge Tonya S. Chutkan granted a temporary restraining order late Thursday night. The order stops the Trump administration from starting construction for at least 14 days.

The National Capital Planning Commission voted 8-4 to approve the project. The commission is led by Trump appointees. The vote followed hours of public testimony. The proposed arch would stand 250 feet tall. That makes it more than twice the height of the 99-foot Lincoln Memorial. It would also exceed the height of France's Arc de Triomphe. The structure is planned for Columbia Island, located across the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial.

The lawsuit was filed by three Vietnam War veterans and an architectural historian. The District of Columbia and the state of Virginia recently joined the case. The plaintiffs accuse the administration of violating federal law. They claim the government did not seek specific congressional authorization for the project. Judge Chutkan consolidated this case with the earlier suit filed by the veterans.

Michael Lemmon, an Army veteran and former foreign service officer, led the opposition at the commission hearing. He told the panel that the arch would profoundly disturb the peace owed to those buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Lemmon described the plan as frankly blasphemous. He was one of 130 people who signed up to provide comments before the final vote.

Commission Chair Mark Paoletta defended the project at the start of the meeting. Paoletta also serves as the general counsel for the Office of Management and Budget and the acting head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. He stated that the arch would complete a project over a century in the making. He argued the structure would honor veterans and provide a monumental gateway for Arlington National Cemetery. Paoletta also cited a generational security opportunity, noting the arch would house drones, snipers, and ammunition to protect the capital.

A tense exchange occurred between Paoletta and Representative Jared Huffman of California. Huffman is the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee. He argued the arch would dishonor America, its ideals, and its laws. Paoletta countered that the project was authorized over 100 years ago when Congress approved the initial plan for Memorial Bridge. Huffman responded that if Paoletta wanted to make that argument in federal court, he was going to lose.

The Justice Department informed the court earlier Thursday that a construction contractor had prematurely painted lines on the grounds. A freelance photographer posted pictures of the painted grass. Administration lawyers said the contractor did not have authorization from the National Park Service to undertake the line painting. NPS officials might periodically visit the site to prevent unauthorized activity.

Planning documents released by the Interior Department earlier this year indicate construction will take place 20 hours per day. The process is expected to last two to three years. The judge presiding over the lawsuit has ordered the administration to provide the court with at least 30 minutes' notice before any work begins.