For nearly a century, an unobstructed view across the Potomac River has connected the Lincoln Memorial with Arlington National Cemetery and the former home of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. The carefully designed corridor commemorates a nation reunited after the Civil War, its open landscape preserving a visual connection between the president who fought to save the Union and the Virginia estate of the general who fought against it.
President Donald Trump wants to erect a 250-foot triumphal arch directly in that historic sightline, a towering monument with statues, an observation deck, and proposed military capabilities that could include drones, snipers, and ammunition.
D.C. and Virginia officials have gone to federal court to stop him, alleging the administration is preparing to begin construction without congressional authorization, violating federal preservation laws and potentially endangering Washington residents.
D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb warned that construction would cause “serious, immediate and irreparable harm to the District and its residents.”
The lawsuit targets the National Park Service, the Department of the Interior and senior federal officials. Construction could begin as early as Thursday, Nov. 5, when the National Capital Planning Commission is scheduled to consider final approval.
The arch would rise from Memorial Circle, the busy traffic rotary connecting Arlington Memorial Bridge to Arlington National Cemetery, where more than 400,000 service members, veterans and family members are buried.
Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones condemned what he called “Trump’s illegal vanity project,” arguing that its placement would dishonor the cemetery and the sacrifices of those buried there.
“The Commonwealth has a solemn duty and a profound interest in preserving the dignity of this sacred place,” Jones said. “We will vigorously litigate to protect its sanctity and honor the legacy of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.”
The complaint alleges violations of the Commemorative Works Act, which requires congressional authorization for federal monuments, and Washington’s Height of Buildings Act, which generally restricts buildings along commercial streets to 130 feet.
The National Park Service’s own environmental findings acknowledge that the arch would obstruct the historic view between Arlington House and the Lincoln Memorial. Its height would also compete visually with the Washington Monument.
Designers of Arlington Memorial Bridge rejected prominent arch elements nearly a century ago, choosing a low structure that preserved the view across the river.
More than 27,000 vehicles, 1,100 bicyclists and 1,200 pedestrians pass through Memorial Circle daily, and construction could last three years, with crews working up to 20 hours a day, closing part of the rotary and reducing westbound lanes on Memorial Bridge.
Dozens of trucks would haul as many as 100 loads of construction material daily through a corridor already strained by traffic. Emergency responders traveling between D.C. and Arlington could face delays, while District officials would need to revise evacuation plans.
The proposed arch also sits near flight paths serving Reagan National Airport. Construction cranes could reach approximately 320 feet, raising aviation safety concerns.
Trump has proposed using the structure as a military installation equipped with drones, snipers, and ammunition, although those functions are absent from the final architectural plans.
D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D), who has served on the National Capital Planning Commission since 2012, challenged the speed of the review process. In a court declaration, he said the commission advanced the project through major reviews within five weeks, compared with the years typically devoted to comparable projects.
“Congress established a process for approving memorials in Washington for good reason,” Mendelson said. “What we commemorate, where we commemorate it, and how a memorial fits into Washington’s historic landscape are important decisions that deserve careful consideration.”
The lawsuit alleges that federal officials considered only two alternatives during environmental review: constructing Trump’s preferred monument or building nothing. Proposals for a smaller arch or slender columns were dismissed.
Trump brushed aside the legal challenge Saturday during a Halloween event at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
“They’ve sued me on everything. They’ve lost every lawsuit,” he told reporters.
The president defended the monument’s appearance and proposed military purpose.
“It will be one of Washington’s most beautiful things. It’s also very important militarily,” Trump insisted.
District Mayor Muriel Bowser’s (D) office did not return calls seeking comment.
Federal officials have indicated that construction could begin immediately after final approval, potentially leaving the court only hours to intervene. The lawsuit seeks to prevent the administration from breaking ground before a judge can determine whether the project is lawful.
“The proposed arch has not gone through that process,” Mendelson said.
