Judge halts work on Trump's arch after planning panel vote

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan blocked construction of President Donald Trump's proposed 250-foot arch on Friday.

The order came less than an hour after the National Capital Planning Commission approved the monument at a virtual meeting late Thursday night. The commission voted 8-4 to give final approval to the structure around 10:29 p.m.

The ruling prohibits the administration from starting or carrying out any construction-related activity near the proposed site on the banks of the Potomac River. The judge issued the order after a final vote passed despite more than 120 citizens speaking in opposition during a public hearing that lasted over eight hours.

Opponents of the project, including veterans and preservationists, argue the arch lacks congressional approval as required by the Commemorative Works Act. They contend the structure will disrupt the sightlines of nearby landmarks, including the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington House. The National Park Service acknowledged in an August review that the arch would have adverse effects on up to 42 historic sites.

Michael Lemmon, the main plaintiff in the lawsuit challenging the construction, told the commission that the review process was rushed with a predetermined outcome. He cited the deliberate exclusion of Congress and the bending of rules by federal agencies. Democratic Rep. Don Beyer, whose district includes Arlington National Cemetery, called the structure a monumental abomination of one man's ego during a protest on Thursday morning.

The Trump administration had indicated it might begin work immediately after the vote. The White House aims to complete the arch before the new Congress takes power in January. The project is intended to mark the nation's 250th anniversary and serve as a military complex for storing drones and ammunition, though the final plans submitted to the commission did not include these military components.

The administration plans to use two 10-hour shifts daily for construction. The National Park Service admitted to the court that its construction company had drawn markings around the site without permission before the vote. The Department of Interior stated it would move forward with the project within 30 minutes of the commission's approval.