President Trump’s legal challenges proposed memorial arch are on the rise, with the District of Columbia and Virginia suing in federal court Saturday as the administration says construction could start starting next week.
There are now three lawsuits calling for a halt to potential work on a monument that would rise 250 feet on a patch of grass off the bridge that spans the Potomac River, connecting the city to Arlington National Cemetery. This would make the arch 100 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty, from its base to the top of the torch.
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan is already considering placing an order to put the project on hold until the original lawsuit against the Trump administration by three Vietnam War veterans and an architectural historian is resolved. She held a hearing Friday but did not act immediately, although she said she would act quickly.
In the latest lawsuit, two attorneys general, Brian Schwalb of Washington, D.C., and Jay Jones of Virginia, claim that “once defendants begin this project, they will inflict irreparable harm on both the District and Virginia.”
“The Arch site lies at the center of a major traffic artery between the District and Virginia, in the monumental heart of the capital, on an island that straddles the Potomac River,” the lawsuit states. “During the three-year construction period, the Arch project will inevitably impede traffic between jurisdictions, produce pollution and stormwater runoff into the Potomac, interfere with emergency services, and pose numerous other challenges.”
Doug Burgum 
As the original plaintiffs did, the two states are also seeking a temporary restraining order that would slow the administration’s plans to imminently move forward with construction.
“Thanks to the Builder in Chief, no other president has done more to beautify our nation’s interior than President Trump,” White House spokesman Davis Ingle said in a statement to CBS News. “From restoring our treasured monuments after years of abuse and vandalism, to cleaning up our parks and the Reflecting Pool, to equipping the White House with a much-needed helipad and the world’s finest ballroom, President Trump’s bold vision aims to ensure that the People’s House and our nation’s capital will be properly glorified and remain in excellent condition for generations to come.
The trial raises concerns about how the traffic interruption would impact emergency responses in a region where joint operations are the norm, including January 2025 mid-air collision between a military helicopter and an airliner which killed 67 people.
The Republican administration, in a recent court filing, said it plans to seek final approval of the project, one of Mr. Trump’s favorites, at Thursday’s meeting of the National Capital Planning Commission and possibly begin construction the same day, despite ongoing lawsuits.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images 
On Friday, the government submitted a 106-page plan for the arch that envisions a massive structure of more than 12 stories which includes a huge bronze statue of Lady Liberty with wings and carrying an eternal flame torch. The structure would include an observation deck with views to the east and west, an “occupied roof” and two mezzanines.
Inside the ark are program rooms, offices, a staff lounge, circular staircases, several elevators, and a “fire command center.” The project proposes significant changes to traffic in the area, including rerouting traffic on nearby roads. Administration officials said the ark would also have a national security function.
“The Arch of Triumph at Memorial Circle will be one of the most iconic monuments not only in Washington, D.C., but around the world. It will serve as the gateway to Arlington National Cemetery for veterans, families of the fallen and all Americans, serving as a visual reminder of the noble sacrifices borne by so many American heroes throughout our 250-year history so that we can enjoy our freedoms today,” Ingle said. “President Trump will continue to honor our veterans and give the greatest nation on earth – America – the glory it deserves.”
Gn headline
