President Donald Trump’s plan to build a large arch in Washington, DC, has faced a major legal setback. A federal judge has stopped all construction work on the project for 14 days. The decision came just hours after a federal planning body gave the proposed structure its final approval.
US District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan issued the order shortly before midnight on Friday. She accepted a request from the governments of Washington, DC, and Virginia. Both governments had asked the court to stop the project while their legal cases continue.
The planned arch would rise 250 feet above Memorial Circle. The site is a traffic island on the bridge that connects the Lincoln Memorial with Arlington National Cemetery. The project has faced strong public opposition over its legal status, cost, design and effect on the historic area.
In her 33-page opinion, Chutkan reviewed the reasons the Trump administration had given for the project. She focused on the government’s changing arguments, including its recent claims about national security. She also found that DC and Virginia were likely to face harm if construction went ahead.
The judge said some of the expected problems would begin as soon as work started. She pointed to traffic delays and other disruptions in the area. Both local governments had warned that the project could create financial costs and make daily travel more difficult.
Trump administration officials had said construction would take place for 20 hours a day, every day of the year. They expected the work to continue for two to three years. DC and Virginia argued that such a long project would affect roads, public services and nearby communities.
The ruling came less than two hours after the National Capital Planning Commission approved the arch by an 8-4 vote. The commission, which includes members appointed by the president, had heard hours of public comments before reaching its decision.
The meeting began on Thursday afternoon and lasted nearly nine hours. A total of 131 people had signed up to speak. Veterans, relatives of service members, lawmakers, preservation experts and local residents shared their views on the proposed structure.
The meeting was held online because of the large number of people who wanted to take part. However, the live broadcast stopped working just minutes after public testimony began. The technical problem delayed the meeting by about an hour before the stream returned.
Earlier that day, dozens of people had gathered at Memorial Circle to protest the plan. Many spoke against the arch and questioned whether it belonged near the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
The site had also shown signs of early construction planning. White paint lines were visible on the grass. Government lawyers told the court that the marks had been made by the company selected for the construction work. The work appeared to have taken place without permission from the National Park Service.
The legal dispute began earlier this year. A group of Vietnam War veterans and an architectural historian filed a lawsuit against the federal government. They argued that building the arch would require approval from Congress. The administration has not obtained such approval.
The governments of DC and Virginia later filed their own lawsuit. Their case raised similar questions about the project’s legal basis. They also warned that construction could harm local services, traffic and public finances.
Chutkan combined the two cases and asked the administration to notify the court within one hour of the planning commission’s decision. This step allowed her to review the approval and consider the request to stop construction before work could begin.
The administration had told the court that excavation could start on the same day as the commission vote. However, the growing legal challenge created uncertainty over whether the project could move forward.
Opponents have raised several concerns about the design and location. They say the 250-foot structure would block an important view near the Lincoln Memorial. They also argue that it could affect the peaceful setting of Arlington National Cemetery, where many US military members are buried.
Some veterans said the project would show disrespect for those who served and died for the country. Others warned that the arch could add risks to the complex airspace around Washington. The final cost of the project is also unknown, as the administration has not released a confirmed figure.
Several critics described the arch as part of Trump’s effort to create a lasting personal legacy in the nation’s capital. Former DC resident Emi Yamauchi said voters had recently shown their opposition to what she called vanity projects and corruption.
Most people who spoke at the commission meeting opposed the plan. Only a few supported it. They included Republican Representatives Andrew Clyde of Georgia and Brian Mast of Florida, both military veterans.
Many speakers shared personal stories about Arlington National Cemetery. Some had relatives buried there, while others hoped to be laid to rest at the cemetery in the future. They asked commissioners to consider its history and meaning before approving the project.
The 14-day court order now prevents the administration from carrying out construction work. The planning commission has approved the design, but that decision does not end the legal dispute. The next steps will depend on further court action and whether the administration can show that it has the legal authority to build the arch.
