A federal judge has halted plans to build Donald Trump’s proposed 250-foot “Triumphal Arch” in Washington, just hours after his administration said construction could begin “immediately.”
Judge Tanya Chutkan handed Trump a significant legal setback late Thursday by issuing a temporary restraining order barring the administration from moving forward with the structure, which critics have dubbed the “Arc de Trump.”
The monument was planned for an area near Arlington National Cemetery and would stand about as tall as a 25-story building. Its final price, however, has not been made public.
Some estimates have put the project’s cost at up to $100 million, but officials have not confirmed the figure or explained how the construction would be financed.
Chutkan’s ruling came only hours after the National Capital Planning Commission, the federal body that reviews major projects in Washington, approved the proposal by an 8-4 vote.
The decision followed nearly nine hours of contentious public testimony. Administration representatives had argued that building work could start within 24 hours of approval.
The vote also highlighted a sharp split between Trump’s Washington allies and local leaders, who have mounted strong opposition to the planned monument.
Most supporters who appeared to back the arch were members of the Trump administration or individuals closely associated with the president. Opponents included representatives of Washington, DC, and surrounding communities.
A federal planning agency has approved Donald Trump’s proposed 250-foot “Triumphal Arch” near central Washington, potentially clearing the way for construction to begin within 24 hours
The approval represents a major step forward for Trump’s effort to reshape the capital region with the proposed monument
Members of Congress, veterans, architects and residents of Washington and Virginia spoke out against the plan Thursday, with critics describing the enormous structure as an extravagant monument to Trump’s personal image.
“Trump is a president, not a king,” California Democratic Representative Jared Huffman told the planning commission during its hearing.
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The proposal was plunged into uncertainty soon afterward when Chutkan issued a 14-day order blocking the government from undertaking any “construction-related activity” while the legal dispute proceeds.
The judge had already expressed skepticism last week about the administration’s attempt to accelerate the project during ongoing litigation. She also appeared unconvinced by its late effort to describe the arch as part of a military facility.
Trump revealed late last month that the structure would also serve a military purpose, including space for drones and ammunition intended for rapid deployment in “large numbers.” He said the rooftop and plaza would include positions for sniper teams.
“For National Security purposes, I have agreed to convert the magnificent Triumphal Arch, planned since the Civil War Era many years ago, at the Receptive Circle adjoining the Arlington Memorial Bridge, into a top grade Military Complex/Triumphal Arch,” he wrote on Truth Social.
“There will be no facility like this anywhere in the World. Out of the 59 top cities and Capitals, Washington, D.C., Is The Only One In The World That Does Not Have A Triumphal Arch, but it will now and, by far, the greatest of them all! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President Donald J. Trump,” he added.
The project could also face a political challenge. Democrats, buoyed by historic midterm victories on Tuesday, have threatened to scrap the plan when they take control of the House and Senate in January.
“The Great Gatsby party is over,” Huffman said just hours before the federal commission met to consider the arch proposal.
“The arch is an illegal project. It’s a monstrosity. It’s a slap in the face to veterans and to the history and the aesthetics of this sacred place,” he said. “It’s unthinkable that this would be allowed to proceed.”
The proposed arch is not the first time Trump has invoked national security to support an ambitious architectural project during his second term. The president has made clear that he wants to leave both a symbolic and a physical imprint on the nation’s capital.
Work on elements of Trump’s White House ballroom project has continued with funding allocated through the Secret Service budget, even as portions of the plan remain the subject of lawsuits.
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