Trump administration to break ground on 250-foot Washington arch despite legal challenges

The Trump administration plans to start digging for a 250-foot arch near Arlington National Cemetery within two weeks, even though legal and planning hurdles remain unresolved.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said on X that excavation for the Great Triumphal Arch and Military Observation Deck would begin “over the next two-week period.” The structure, designed to evoke Paris’ Arc de Triomphe, forms part of President Donald Trump’s effort to leave a lasting architectural mark on Washington.

Other projects linked to that effort include a new White House ballroom, renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and redevelopment of a golf course in East Potomac Park. Supporters say the arch would honor American veterans because of its location near the military cemetery.

Opponents say the monument would damage the carefully designed historic view between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington House. Congressional Democrats argue that current congressional approval is required, despite Congress approving a memorial at the site more than a century ago.

A lawsuit seeking to stop the project is pending before U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who sharply questioned Trump’s authority during an April hearing. The plaintiffs withdrew a request for a preliminary injunction after the government agreed to provide 14 days’ notice before construction begins.

The project also lacks final approval from the National Capital Planning Commission. The commission is considering whether to waive Washington’s 130-foot height limit, which the administration says should not apply to the arch.

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over the next two-week period