Virginia and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit in federal court Saturday in a last-ditch effort to stop construction of the triumphal arch planned for Memorial Circle in Washington.
The Trump administration announced plans to begin construction of the arch next week, on November 5.
“The construction of the Ark will inflict immediate and irreparable harm on the District and on Virginia,” Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones and D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb wrote in the lawsuit. “The Arch should be built on a busy roundabout which adjoins the border between jurisdictions, at the center of a historic panorama, in a river for which the district has a statutory responsibility to protect the environment.”
“Construction of the Arch and the completed monument will disrupt the operations of both jurisdictions, harm their ability to carry out their responsibilities under federal and local laws, and require the expenditure of substantial resources to mitigate and address these impacts,” they added.
The attorneys general wrote that their request to block construction was urgent.
“It is entirely foreseeable that once construction begins, Defendants will argue, as they have in other cases, that an order to stop construction would irreparably harm the federal government, pose security risks, and unacceptably alter the status quo they have unilaterally created,” they said. “The Court should not allow this cynical gamble to succeed. »
Jones and Schwalb added that they believe the administration is violating the Memorial Works Act by circumventing specific authorization from Congress and violating the Building Height Act by constructing an arch that would have to exceed 130 feet in height. They also alleged violations of the National Environmental Policy Act and the National Historic Preservation Act.
Jones, in a statement Saturday, said: “Virginia is immensely proud to be home to Arlington National Cemetery, the final resting place of generations of American heroes who gave their lives in defense of our nation. President Trump’s illegal vanity project is an affront to this sacred land and the extraordinary sacrifices it represents. The Commonwealth has a solemn duty and deep interest in preserving the dignity of this sacred place. We will vigorously advocate to protect its sanctity and honor the legacy of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Schwalb said, “Construction of the Arch is blatantly illegal and will cause serious, immediate, and irreparable harm to the District and its residents. We are filing this lawsuit now to protect DC’s unique interests and its essential role in preserving the safeguards that maintain the beauty and safety of our nation’s capital,” in a separate statement.
Earlier this year, the National Capital Planning Commission, led by Trump appointees, approved initial plans to build the arch, one of President Donald Trump’s efforts to remake Washington in his image during his term.
The commission is expected to vote on final plans for the arch on Nov. 5.
In a statement, White House spokesman David Ingle told NBC News on Saturday: “The Arch of Triumph at Memorial Circle will be one of the most iconic monuments not only in Washington, D.C., but in the entire 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 to May we enjoy our freedoms today. President Trump will continue to honor our veterans and give the greatest nation on earth – America – the glory it deserves.
Ingle did not respond to a direct question from NBC News about the lawsuit filed Saturday.
Renderings obtained by NBC News in April show the arch is expected to feature winged eagles, Lady Liberty and a line from the Pledge of Allegiance.
In September, the president said on Truth Social that the ark would also serve a national security function because it would be equipped to “house, store and have the rapid capacity to operate large numbers of drones, as well as snipers, both on the roof and in the plaza, and additionally store large quantities of sniper ammunition.”
But the final plans and renderings submitted to the NCPC do not include the military improvements the president is talking about.
Trump has used national security as an argument for other construction projects that have been the subject of legal battles, such as the new ballroom he is building at the White House. In addition to serving as a gathering space for large events at the White House, the president said, the addition will also house a military complex that will be built beneath the ballroom.
“When completed in the summer of 2028, the magnificent ballroom and military complex will be something the entire country will be very proud of,” the president wrote in an August article on Truth Social after the Supreme Court allowed construction of the ballroom to continue, rejecting a legal challenge from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The president also angered residents with a plan to renovate the East Potomac Golf Links course in Washington, despite legal obstacles related to the project.
In an article on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump explained why he supports renovating the golf course.
“The East Potomac Golf Course is very unsafe, dilapidated and absolutely disgusting. Below are new photos of the deplorable state of the driving range building, including feces in the stairwell. The gaping holes in the driving range’s “protective” netting are very dangerous. Golf balls are flying through the holes at high speeds and hitting unexpected golfers, including a White House staff member who, unfortunately, was violently hit in chest,” the president wrote.
He promised to transform the course into “a world-class championship golf course.”
Gn usa
