A federal judge on Thursday night blocked President Donald Trump’s administration from breaking ground on a proposed 250-foot-tall triumphal arch, shortly after a federal commission voted to approve the project. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan issued a two-week restraining order barring any construction activity related to the arch while litigation is pending.
Commission Votes 8-4 to Approve Arch
The National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) voted 8-4 on the evening of November 5, 2026, to greenlight the arch, which would stand on Memorial Circle, a traffic island on the bridge linking the Lincoln Memorial to Arlington National Cemetery.
Chair Mark Paoletta, a White House official who chairs the commission, led the approval. The commission started deliberating Thursday night and approved the project after hours of testimony from concerned citizens.
Commissioner Paul Ingrassia, a lawyer for the General Services Administration, defended the project as non-political. It’s about remembrance.
It’s about celebrating our history.
And it’s really something that’s a noble tribute to the nation.
Arch Approval Faces Legal Challenges
The approval came after more than eight hours of public testimony, with dozens of speakers voicing opposition. Many saw the arch as part of Trump’s unilateral effort to memorialize himself.
Chair Phil Mendelson, who also sits on the National Capital Planning Commission, was among the dissenters. He introduced a motion to postpone the vote, saying, We cannot approve final site and building plans until we have the final site and building plan.
He noted the project had not received required approval from Congress, nor had Congress appropriated any money for it.
The project has drawn fierce opposition from local officials, preservation organizations, and veterans. Rep. Don Beyer, whose district encompasses Arlington National Cemetery, called it a monumental abomination of one man’s ego
that disrespects every service member buried there. The Arlington County Board filed a lawsuit in opposition, and three lawsuits have been filed against the project in total.
Many of those who spoke against the arch were veterans or relatives of family members buried at Arlington. This monumental abomination of one man’s ego disrespects every service member who’s buried there,
Beyer said at a protest on the Watergate Steps.
Judge Issues Temporary Halt
Chutkan’s ruling came within an hour of the NCPC’s vote. In her order, she concluded that the harms facing Washington and Virginia—from years of traffic disruptions to economic damage caused by a huge construction zone—justified the immediate halt.
During a hearing last week, Chutkan had pressed the administration on its national security claims. We're not talking about plans for a cafeteria,
she said, referencing declarations from Hegseth and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin that the arch could have sensors, communications equipment, and defense capabilities to defend against drone attacks.
The Trump administration’s rush to move forward was a key point of contention. Administration lawyer Robert Stander had similarly told the court that the arch was absolutely a high-priority project
and that any delay would impede government work.
Arch Project's Future Now in Court
The proposed arch is part of Trump’s broader effort to remake the nation’s capital. The project, which would be 100 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty without its pedestal, has been driven by what critics call an artificial sense of urgency.
The project’s future now depends on the court’s ongoing review. The Interior Department, which oversees the National Park Service, notified the court within half an hour of the NCPC’s approval that it would move forward, only to be blocked by Chutkan’s order.
Earlier coverage: Federal Panel Votes to Approve Trump Arch in D.C.
