Virginia and Washington, DC, have filed a lawsuit to stop President Donald Trump from building a planned triumphal arch near the Lincoln Memorial. The two jurisdictions say the project breaks the law and could cause lasting harm to the capital region.
The lawsuit was filed on Saturday in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones and DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb are leading the legal fight against the plan.
Their 45-page filing calls the project unlawful. It argues that federal officials have failed to give local leaders a fair chance to review the plan and address its likely effects.
The proposed arch would stand 250 feet tall. The Trump administration first revealed the plan in October 2025. The structure would rise between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial, placing it near two well-known national landmarks.
At 250 feet, the arch would be twice as tall as the Lincoln Memorial. Its size and location have raised concerns about how it could affect roads, nearby areas and the wider landscape of the nation’s capital.
The lawsuit warns that construction could begin as soon as next week. Virginia and DC say they may have little time to prepare for the effects before work starts.
The two jurisdictions also argue that the project could cause major traffic problems. Roads between Virginia and Washington, DC, are used by many workers, visitors and residents each day. Any changes linked to the construction could add to delays and create new costs for local authorities.
The attorneys general say both areas may need to act quickly to study the risks, manage traffic and limit harm. They argue that these steps would require money and staff time that local governments may not be able to recover.
The filing says federal officials did not properly consider these costs. It also claims they failed to consult with Virginia and DC during what the lawsuit describes as a rushed process to approve the arch and begin construction.
The legal action seeks to stop the project before work moves forward. The attorneys general argue that waiting until construction begins could make it harder to prevent damage or address the problems they have raised.
The White House and the Interior Department were asked to comment on the lawsuit on Saturday. No response had been received by the time of the report.
Trump has defended the proposed arch in the past. He described it as a structure that would include a military complex for weapons and snipers. However, the latest plans do not include those military features.
The design will be reviewed by the National Capital Planning Commission. The review is part of the process for major projects in the Washington area. The lawsuit adds another challenge as the project moves through legal and planning steps.
The case is now before US District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan. She has ordered both sides to discuss the dispute and agree on a proposed schedule for filing their arguments.
The judge set a deadline of Saturday evening for the parties to submit a proposed briefing schedule on a request for a temporary restraining order. Such an order could pause construction while the court reviews the case.
The request is important because work on the arch may begin soon. A temporary order could delay construction while the court considers whether the project can legally proceed. The final outcome will depend on the court’s review and any further decisions in the case.
The lawsuit also raises wider questions about how the federal government plans major projects in the nation’s capital. Virginia and DC argue that projects with a direct effect on their roads, budgets and communities should involve local officials before key decisions are made.
For now, the future of the arch remains uncertain. The court must consider the request to pause construction, while the planning review remains another key step. The legal challenge could delay the project as both sides present their arguments.
