A federal judge in Washington, D.C., is scheduled to hear arguments Friday, Oct. 30, over whether to halt President Trump's proposed 250-foot arch between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial. The hearing brings the Justice Department and a group of Vietnam War veterans before U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan as a possible construction start approaches.
The veterans, who sued earlier this year, are seeking a preliminary injunction to prevent work from proceeding. Their attorneys contend that the administration has moved too quickly and that the project lacks the necessary congressional approval. Justice Department filings submitted earlier in October said construction could start Nov. 5 if the National Capital Planning Commission grants final approval that day.
In papers filed ahead of the hearing, the plaintiffs cited that schedule as a reason for immediate court intervention. They argued that allowing construction to advance would run against the public interest and raised concerns that the administration could move to establish the project before Chutkan reaches a final decision. They also contend that the arch would interrupt the planned sightline connecting the Lincoln Memorial and the Robert E. Lee Memorial, a symbolic link intended to express unity following the Civil War.
Shaun Byrnes, one of the plaintiffs, told CBS News earlier this year that his opposition reflected a sense of responsibility to friends and fellow service members who did not return from war, regardless of who held office. He described the project as disrespectful both to those he served alongside who died and to others buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
The Justice Department has urged Chutkan to reject the challenge, arguing that the plaintiffs lack legal standing. Citing a Supreme Court decision concerning the White House ballroom case, government lawyers said emotional and aesthetic objections to the arch's perceived symbolism do not establish a sufficiently concrete, individualized injury. They also argued that the first six months of construction would involve foundation and underground work, leaving the disputed views between the memorials unobstructed during that period.
The administration has also presented a national defense justification for the arch. In sworn declarations, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the military and Secret Service could use it to protect Washington against unmanned drones and other potential threats. Trump had described a military role involving snipers and drones in a September Truth Social post.
A separate legal challenge concerns the project's potential effect on nearby airport operations. Arlington County has sued in federal court in Virginia to block the arch, which would occupy a currently empty traffic circle near the county. The county argues that the structure would require changes to flight paths at Reagan International Airport and has asked a judge to order an environmental review.
