Virginia and D.C. Demand a Stop to the Trump Arch Project
Attorneys general argue the 250-foot structure will cause immediate traffic and environmental harm before a planned start date next week.
By Fatou Mitchell ·
Virginia and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit on Saturday to stop the construction of President Donald Trump’s proposed triumphal arch.
The 45-page complaint was submitted to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. It describes the project as flagrantly unlawful and argues that building the structure will inflict irreparable harm on both jurisdictions.
The proposed arch will stand 250 feet tall. That height is twice the size of the Lincoln Memorial. The structure is planned for a site between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial. Officials warn that the project could begin construction as soon as next week.
Attorneys general Jay Jones of Virginia and Brian Schwalb of the District of Columbia wrote that the defendants refused to adequately consult with either jurisdiction. They stated that both areas must now take immediate and costly steps to assess and mitigate the harmful effects. The complaint adds that these costs are severe and unrecoverable because of the hurried approval process.
The suit is the latest legal challenge to a design unveiled by the administration in October 2025. Trump previously described the arch as a military complex intended to hold weapons and snipers. The current plans under review by the National Capital Planning Commission do not include military elements.
NPR contacted the White House and the Interior Department on Saturday but did not receive a response by the time of publication. U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkin ordered both sides to negotiate a proposed briefing schedule for a temporary restraining order motion by Saturday evening.
