Trump sued by Washington DC and Virginia over ‘flagrantly unlawful’ arch project

Officials in Washington, D.C., and Virginia sued Donald Trump’s administration to block construction of the president’s proposed triumphal arch, calling the project “flagrantly unlawful.”The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Saturday, is the latest challenge to the planned 250-foot monument, set to be erected in Memorial Circle on the banks of the Potomac River. The administration has said it could break ground in less than a week.The attorneys general of Virginia and Washington argued that the arch project violates multiple laws and statues, citing a failure to obtain required congressional authorization and a proposed height “nearly double” the legal limit for buildings in the nation’s capital.“Perhaps recognizing that the project is legally indefensible, Defendants have made clear that they will attempt to outrun judicial review,” the plaintiffs wrote. They cited a court filing earlier this month in which the Department of Justice said “construction could commence as early as November 5, 2026,” pending final approvals from the National Capital Planning Commission, the National Park Service and the Interior Department.Virginia and Washington, DC have sued the Trump administration in an attempt to halt construction on President Trump’s proposed 250-foot triumphal arch (@Realdonaldtrump, Truth Social)“It is entirely foreseeable that, once construction begins, Defendants will argue — as they have done in other cases — that an order halting construction would irreparably harm the federal government,” the plaintiffs wrote.“The Court should not allow this cynical gambit to succeed,” they said.Attorneys warned that, should the project proceed, it would cause “irreparable harm” to both Virginia and Washington, D.C., including increased traffic congestion and pollution over the estimated three-year construction period.The stone arch, reminiscent of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and designed to feature gilded statues and an observation deck, has already faced multiple legal challenges.A separate lawsuit brought by Vietnam War veterans argues the monument lacks the required congressional approval and would obstruct views of Arlington National Cemetery, the final resting place for hundreds of thousands of U.S. service members and their family members.The cemetery is located just west of Memorial Circle. Arlington County, Virginia, also filed a lawsuit earlier this month seeking to halt construction. A number of protests have been staged at Memorial Circle over the past year.Demonstrators protest against US President Donald Trump's planned ‘triumphal arch’ at Memorial Circle in Washington, DC on October 1, 2026 (AFP/Getty)The Trump administration has sought to fend off legal challenges by arguing that the plaintiffs lack standing to sue. More recently, officials have also argued that completing the arch is necessary for national security — a defense frequently invoked for the president's many construction efforts.“The Arch is a generational national defense opportunity to mitigate these evolving threats,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote in a court filing this week. “It will be utilized as a dual-purpose structure: a major national monument that also incorporates military utility to support Homeland defense.”The monument will also house “counter sniper personnel,” he said.The president has said the towering arch is meant to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. When asked by a journalist last year who the arch was for, he replied: “Me — it's going to be beautiful.”Trump has said the arch is intended to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence (AFP via Getty Images)At 250 feet, the monument would eclipse the U.S. Capitol Building, the Lincoln Memorial, the White House and even the Arc de Triomphe.“I'd like it to be the biggest one of all,” Trump told reporters in February. “We're the biggest, most powerful nation.”It’s unclear how much the project will cost. The White House has said it will likely rely on both private and public funds, according to The New York Times. The National Endowment for the Humanities has set aside $15 million.According to an April Ipsos survey, 52 percent of Americans oppose the arch, while 21 percent favor it.The latest lawsuit comes just days before Election Day, when millions of Americans will go to the polls to cast ballots for their representatives in Congress. Numerous surveys indicate the Republican Party could sustain steep losses, amid voter frustration over gas prices and the Iran war — and as Trump’s approval rating hovers near historic lows.