White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt shows an artist’s rendition of U.S. President Donald Trump’s planned Arc de Triomphe during a press conference in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House on April 15, 2026, in Washington, DC.
Brendan Smialowski AFP | Getty Images
Legal challenges to President Donald Trump’s proposed memorial arch are mounting, with the District of Columbia and Virginia filing suit in federal court on Saturday, as the administration says construction could begin as early as next week.
Three lawsuits are currently seeking to stop construction that could build a 250-foot (76-meter) monument on a lawn near a bridge over the Potomac River that connects the city to Arlington National Cemetery. This would make the height from the base of the arch to the top of the torch 100 feet (30 meters) higher than the Statue of Liberty.
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan is already considering issuing an order halting the project until an initial lawsuit against the Trump administration by three Vietnam War veterans and an architectural historian is resolved. She held a public hearing Friday but did not take immediate action, but said she would act quickly.
In the latest lawsuit, Washington Attorney General Brian Schwalb and Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones wrote, “As soon as the defendants break ground on this project, they will cause irreparable harm to both the District and the Commonwealth of Virginia.” Located in the monumental heart of the nation’s capital and at the center of a major transportation artery between the District and Virginia, the Arch project will inevitably disrupt inter-jurisdictional traffic, create pollution and stormwater runoff on the Potomac River, disrupt emergency services, and create many other challenges during its three-year construction period.
Like the original plaintiffs, they are also seeking a temporary restraining order to delay the government’s plans to proceed with impending construction.
The White House did not respond to requests for comment.
The case raises concerns about how traffic disruptions could affect emergency response in areas where joint operations are common, such as the January 2025 mid-air collision between a military helicopter and a passenger plane that killed 67 people.
The Republican administration said in a recent court filing that it plans to seek final approval for the project, a favorite of President Trump, at Thursday’s Capital and State Planning Commission meeting and possibly begin construction on the same day, even though two lawsuits are pending.
On Friday, the government submitted a 106-page plan for the arch. The plan envisions a massive structure over 12 stories high, including a giant Statue of Liberty with wings and a torch that lights an eternal flame. The structure will include an observation deck with east and west views, an “occupancy roof,” and two mezzanines.
Inside the arch are program spaces, offices, a staff lounge, a circular staircase, multiple elevators, and a room for a “fire command center.” The project proposes significant changes to transportation within the area, including rerouting traffic on nearby roads. Administration officials say the arch will also have national security functions.
