Washington DC and Virginia sue to stop Trump’s proposed memorial arch as construction nears, in a third lawsuit

Washington DC and Virginia sued in federal court on Saturday to stop construction of President Donald Trump’s proposed memorial arch. The suit came as the administration says construction could begin as early as next week.

There are now three lawsuits calling for a halt to work on the monument. The proposed structure would rise 250 feet (76 meters) on a patch of grass off the bridge spanning the Potomac River that connects the city with Arlington National Cemetery. That height would make the arch 100 feet (30 meters) taller than the Statue of Liberty from its base to the top of its torch.

US District Judge Tanya Chutkan is already considering whether to issue an order halting the project until the original lawsuit, brought by three Vietnam War veterans and an architectural historian, is resolved. She held a hearing on Friday but did not immediately act, though she said she would move expeditiously.

The latest lawsuit was filed by Washington DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb and Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones. They argue that as soon as ground is broken on the project, it will inflict irreparable harm on both the District and Virginia. The arch site sits at the center of a major traffic artery between the two jurisdictions, in the monumental core of the capital, on an island that straddles the Potomac River.

The lawsuit says that during the three-year construction period, the project will inevitably snarl traffic between the jurisdictions, produce pollution and storm water runoff in the Potomac, interfere with emergency services and pose numerous other challenges. Like the original plaintiffs, the attorneys general are seeking a temporary restraining order that would slow the administration’s plans to move ahead imminently with construction.

The lawsuit also raises concerns about how traffic interruption would affect emergency responses in a region where joint operations are the norm. It refers to the January 2025 midair collision between a US military helicopter and a passenger airliner that killed 67 people.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In a recent court filing, the administration said it planned to seek final approval of the project at Thursday’s meeting of the Capital National Planning Commission and possibly begin construction the same day, despite the two lawsuits then pending.

On Friday, the government submitted a 106-page plan for the arch. It envisions a massive structure more than 12 stories high that includes a huge bronze statue of Lady Liberty with wings, carrying a torch with an eternal flame. The structure would include an observation deck with views to the east and west, an occupied roof and two mezzanines.

Inside the arch are rooms for program space, offices, a staff lounge, circular staircases, multiple elevators and a fire command center. The project proposes significant traffic changes in the area, including rerouting traffic on nearby roads. Administration officials have said the arch will also have a national security function.