D.C. and Virginia Sue to Stop Trump's 250-Foot Arch Before Construction Can Start Nov. 5; Trump Says It Is 'Very Important Militarily'
The District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Virginia have sued the National Park Service, the Interior Department and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to stop construction of President Donald Trump's planned 250-foot triumphal arch at Memorial Circle, the traffic circle at the foot of Arlington Memorial Bridge. In a 46-page complaint filed Saturday in federal court in Washington, the two governments call the project "flagrantly unlawful" and ask a judge to act before work can begin, which they say could happen as early as Wednesday, Nov. 5.
Video: President Trump answers a question about the lawsuit at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday, via Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) on X.
What the Triumphal Arch Lawsuit Claims
The complaint, which The Digital Free Press reviewed, argues that the Commemorative Works Act and another federal law require specific approval from Congress before a monument is built on federal land in the District, and that the administration "has obtained none." It also cites the Height of Buildings Act, which bars buildings taller than 130 feet in the District, saying the arch "would nearly double that statutory restriction." The suit adds claims under the Administrative Procedure Act, the National Environmental Policy Act and the National Historic Preservation Act.
The two governments say more than 27,000 vehicles, 1,100 bicyclists and 1,200 pedestrians pass through the circle each day, and that two to three years of construction would close the south side of the circle and reduce lanes on Memorial Bridge. According to the complaint, the National Park Service's final plans describe a "concrete structure clad in granite or marble veneer," topped with a "central winged figure and two statues," to honor the nation's 250th anniversary. The Commission of Fine Arts gave its final approval on May 21, the filing says.
The Military Angle
Asked about the lawsuit on Saturday, Trump said, "The arch is very important militarily for Washington, D.C., and our country. It's also going to be the most beautiful arch ever built," in a clip posted by the White House's Rapid Response account. He compared it to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and said a vote on the project is expected next week. He did not describe the military use in the clip; that is his claim, not verified by The Digital Free Press.
The complaint says that in an earlier, related case, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin filed declarations on Oct. 28 stating that the arch "will be utilized as a dual-purpose structure: a major national monument that also incorporates military utility," including "counter-sniper personnel," "drones," and "ammunition." Those declarations were quoted in the complaint; The Digital Free Press has not reviewed them in full.
What Happens Next
The National Capital Planning Commission is scheduled to consider the National Park Service's proposal at a meeting on Nov. 5, according to the complaint. In a court notice on Oct. 21, the administration said construction "could commence as early as November 5, 2026" if the commission approves it and the Interior Department issues a final decision.
D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb and Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones also filed a motion for a temporary restraining order, asking the court to pause construction until it can rule on a request for a preliminary injunction. On Saturday, U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan consolidated their case with Lemmon v. Trump, an earlier challenge to the arch, ruling that the cases share common legal questions. No hearing date had been posted on the public docket as of Sunday afternoon.
Sources: Complaint, Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and Consolidation Order, District of Columbia v. National Park Service, No. 1:26-cv-03838-TSC (D.D.C. Oct. 31, 2026): https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/75053865/district-of-columbia-v-national-park-service/ ; Rapid Response 47 on X, President Trump on the arch (Oct. 31, 2026): https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/2116688828610285986 ; Washington Examiner: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house/4787084/dc-virginia-sue-block-trump-triumph-arch/ . Cover photo: Memorial Circle on Columbia Island, National Park Service, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
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