A court order has halted the start of building work on President Donald Trump’s proposed monument near Memorial Circle to allow a federal judge to evaluate emergency legal challenges. Judge Tanya S. Chutkan blocked the start of construction for at least 14 days, momentarily freezing the Trump administration’s plan to break ground on the 250 foot structure immediately after it received regulatory approval from the National Capital Planning Commission late Thursday.
The project is the subject of lawsuits from the District of Columbia and Virginia, which argue the monument lacks congressional authorization and would unlawfully alter the capital’s landscape. Trump has described the arch as a “military complex” that could provide perches for snipers and support drone operations. Although the administration recently admitted that some initial activity had already occurred at the site near Arlington National Cemetery despite previous prohibitions, the new order bars any further activity while the judge weighs whether to permanently halt the project.
