Construction of the proposed monument near the National Mall is slated to take longer than the current president’s remaining time in office, the Justice Department told Reuters on Nov 3. The agency stated that the 250 foot triumphal arch intended for Memorial Circle will not be finished before the end of the second term of the Trump administration, despite previous goals to break ground on the project as early as Nov 5.
The project is currently entangled in legal disputes with the D.C. government and Virginia, both of which have sued to block the monument over claims it lacks proper congressional authorization. Judge Tanya S. Chutkan has ordered the administration to provide the court notice within 30 minutes of any activity related to construction preparations. While critics argue the structure would disrupt the landscape of Arlington National Cemetery, Trump has described the arch as a national defense opportunity that would support snipers and drones.