A U.S. federal district court judge issued a 14-day injunction halting the start of Donald Trump’s "Victory Arch" project after Vietnam War veterans, along with Washington, D.C., and Virginia authorities, filed a lawsuit. The emergency suspension came just hours after the White House planning commission approved the grand construction design amid strong opposition claiming it would damage the historic landscape and lacked congressional approval.
Judge Tanya Chutkan of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ordered the Trump administration to refrain from any construction activities related to the new victory arch for 14 days to allow legal proceedings to continue. The judge stated that a detailed explanation of the injunction would be released later.
The order followed a vote by the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) to approve the design and location of the arch by an 8 to 4 margin, after nearly nine hours of public and stakeholder hearings.
The project is part of the 250th anniversary celebration of U.S. independence and is planned for Memorial Circle near the Potomac River, between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
The proposed arch design features a main structure 166 feet tall, topped with three gilded sculptures: a central gold-winged female figure flanked by two golden eagles, bringing the total height to 250 feet (approximately 76 meters). It will include an observation deck and is expected to take around three years to complete.
The Trump administration estimates the arch could attract between 2,000 and 22,400 visitors daily. However, details about the construction budget and funding sources remain unclear.
The project faces opposition from members of Congress, veterans, and the public. Democratic Representative Jared Huffman called the project illegal, warning it would disrupt the sacred connection between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, emphasizing that Congress should have the authority to approve such memorial projects.
Meanwhile, Jimmy Shonessey, a former Marine opposing the project, said that building a large arch likely to become a tourist attraction with numerous tour buses and food trucks is inappropriate and disrespectful to fallen soldiers and their families.
The NCPC reported receiving over 1,300 public comments, most expressing opposition to the project.
The lawsuit was filed by a group of Vietnam War veterans along with Virginia and Washington, D.C., who argue that the Trump administration is proceeding without congressional authorization and is not following legally required procedures.
Two veteran plaintiffs stated that the large arch would negatively affect the experience of visiting gravesites at Arlington National Cemetery. Virginia and Washington, D.C. officials warned the project could cause traffic congestion between the two sites, increase pollution and stormwater runoff into the Potomac River, and disrupt emergency services.
Previously, Trump said in September that the arch would be a premier military structure and might be used to store drones and sniper ammunition. However, project documents submitted to the planning commission made no mention of military use.
This construction suspension is a temporary measure pending further court review. The court will determine whether the plaintiffs have legal standing to sue and whether the Trump administration has the authority to proceed without congressional approval.
. CBS News