US Court Temporarily Halts Construction of Trump’s Victory Arch Just Hours After Approval - Thairath English
A US federal judge issued a 14-day emergency injunction halting the start of Donald Trump's "Victory Arch" construction project after Vietnam War veterans, along with Washington, D.C. and Virginia, filed a lawsuit. This emergency order came just hours after the White House planning commission approved the grand design amid strong opposition citing destruction of the historic landscape and lack of congressional approval.
Judge Tanya Chutkan of the US District Court for Washington, D.C., ordered the Trump administration to suspend all activities related to constructing the new Victory Arch for 14 days to allow legal proceedings to continue. The judge said she will release a detailed explanation of the order later.
The order followed an 8-4 vote by the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) approving the design and location of the arch after nearly nine hours of public and stakeholder hearings.
The project is part of the 250th anniversary celebration of US independence. It is planned for Memorial Circle near the Potomac River, between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
According to the proposed design, the arch’s main structure will be 166 feet tall and topped with three gold-plated sculptures: a central winged woman flanked by two golden eagles, bringing the total height to 250 feet (about 76 meters). It will feature an observation deck and is expected to take about three years to build.
The Trump administration estimates the arch could attract 2,000 to 22,400 visitors daily. However, the project’s budget and funding sources remain unclear.
The project faces opposition from members of Congress, veterans, and the public. Representative Jared Huffman, a Democrat, stated the project is illegal and would damage the sacred connection between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, emphasizing that Congress should have authority over memorial projects.
Meanwhile, Jimmy Shonessey, a former Marine opposing the project, said the large arch, potentially attracting numerous tour buses and food trucks, is inappropriate and disrespectful to the soldiers who died for the country and their families.
The NCPC disclosed it received over 1,300 public comments, most opposing the project.
The lawsuit was filed by a group of Vietnam War veterans, as well as Virginia and Washington, D.C., who argue the Trump administration is proceeding without congressional approval and is not following legally required procedures.
Two veteran plaintiffs said the large arch would affect their experience when visiting the graves of fallen comrades at Arlington National Cemetery. Virginia and Washington, D.C. warned the project could cause traffic congestion between the two areas, increase pollution and stormwater runoff into the Potomac River, and impact emergency services.
Previously, Trump said in September that the arch would be a leading military structure, possibly housing drones and sniper ammunition. However, project documents submitted to the planning commission did not mention any military use.
This construction suspension is temporary pending legal review. The court must determine whether the plaintiffs have legal standing to sue and whether the Trump administration has authority to proceed without congressional approval.
