President Donald Trump’s proposed 250-foot triumphal arch faces a Friday federal court showdown in Washington, D.C., as Vietnam War veterans and preservationists seek a preliminary injunction to block construction before a potential November 5 groundbreaking.
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan is scheduled to hear arguments on Friday regarding whether to halt the project at Memorial Circle. The administration hopes to begin building as early as November 5, a timeline that coincides with a planned review of final plans by the National Capital Planning Commission.
Veterans Group President Says He Was Misled Over Legal Brief Support
Tom Burke, president of the Vietnam Veterans of America, told members in an email shared with The Washington Post that he received inaccurate information before his group joined a legal brief supporting the administration’s arch project. Burke stated that the group has not taken a position on whether the monument should be constructed.
VETERANS BACK TRUMP ARCH: Several veterans organizations filed a legal brief Wednesday supporting construction of President Donald Trump's planned triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery, according to a report. The Vietnam Veterans of America, Veterans for America… pic.twitter.com/1jTWwKQRuN
Among the six veterans’ organizations that signed onto the brief were the Korean War Veterans Association and the Military Order of the Purple Heart. Three individuals acquainted with the plans indicated that the White House urged the groups to put their names down, whereas two sources mentioned that Vietnam Veterans of America leaders worried about provoking Trump and harming their ties with his administration. The group says it has more than 90,000 members. Harold Trieber, the group’s current president, told the Washington Post he made the decision, and the Justice Department argued in court filings that the plaintiffs do not represent other veterans and should not have the legal right to bring the case, comparing their suit to a previous challenge over a White House ballroom.
The decision surprised several senior leaders within veteran communities. Jay Kalner, president of the group’s Northern Virginia chapter, and David Pickett, former president of the Korean War Veterans Association, both voiced opposition, noting that chapter leaders and members were never consulted before the brief was filed to urge a federal judge to allow Trump’s project to move forward.
The decision surprised several senior leaders within veteran communities.
Cabinet Officials Argue the Arch Provides National Defense Utility
In written declarations submitted to the court on Wednesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin defended the monument’s security value. Hegseth described the structure as a generational national defense opportunity designed to protect the nation’s capital. Trump previously suggested in a September Truth Social post that the arch would feature snipers and drones, though homeland security officials stated the structure could bring officials from multiple agencies under one roof to guard against airspace violations and targeted violence.
The administration argues that the arch’s height and central location at the western end of Arlington Memorial Bridge provide an elevation advantage for sensors, communications, and counter-drone operations. Mullin added that the site provides opportunities for increased capability for information-sharing and logistical coordination.
The elevated position can also support authorized protective-overwatch and counter-sniper personnel by improving observational, situational awareness and coordination with other security elements.
Pete Hegseth, Defense Secretary
Despite these security arguments, final design plans submitted to federal reviewers make no mention of drones, sniper mounts, or ammunition storage, describing the structure instead as a ceremonial gateway to the city.
Preservationists and Veterans Sue Over Missing Congressional Approval and Cemetery Shadows
Plaintiffs in the federal lawsuit—including Vietnam War veterans Jon Gundersen, Michael Lemmon, and Shaun Byrnes, alongside an architectural historian—argue that the administration is bypassing Congress.
A coalition of conservation and historic preservation groups, represented by legal counsel, filed an amicus brief supporting the injunction. The amicus brief has been joined by several entities, namely the National Parks Conservation Association, the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, The Cultural Landscape Foundation, the Committee of 100 on the Federal City, DC Preservation League, and the American Institute of Architects.
These lands belong to the American people and are the final resting place for my family, friends and leathernecks.
Jimi Shaughnessy, NPCA Veterans Program Manager
Opposition has also centered on digital modeling of the structure’s physical footprint. A digital analysis revealed that the 250-foot monument would touch burial sites in Arlington National Cemetery on 284 days over the course of a year, casting shadows over more than 75,000 graves, including the memorial and eternal flame of John F. Kennedy, as well as the Military Women’s Memorial and headstones of formerly enslaved people.
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