Judge Pauses Trump Arch Construction for 14 Days

A federal judge has temporarily stopped construction on a proposed 250-foot arch in Washington, D.C.

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan issued the order on Friday, November 6. The ruling requires a 14-day pause on work for the structure.

The decision came one day after the National Capital Planning Commission approved the project. Commission members voted 8 to 4 to grant approval. That vote followed a nine-hour hearing on Thursday. Dozens of witnesses spoke against the construction during that session.

The Trump administration had indicated the previous week that work could start as early as Thursday. The legal challenge now forces a delay despite the commission's recent green light.

Several lawsuits target the project. A group of Vietnam War veterans filed one challenge in February. They argue the arch would block the view between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial.

In a court filing, the veterans described that line of sight as carefully designed. They stated it symbolizes the unification of the country after the Civil War and the strength of a united nation.

President Donald Trump introduced the proposal last year. He framed it as a way to commemorate 250 years of U.S. independence. Trump compared the design to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, which was built in 1836. The Washington project has become known as the Arc de Trump.

The arch is part of a wider set of capital projects. In a separate action on Friday, Trump signed a proclamation granting national monument status to the Oval Office and the Cabinet room.

Other judges have previously blocked several of Trump's plans. Democrats won control of Congress in this week's midterm elections. That shift may lead to greater scrutiny of these proposals. For the arch, the immediate restriction remains the 14-day construction pause.