WASHINGTON — Construction of President Donald Trump’s proposed 250-foot triumphal arch near Arlington Memorial Bridge could begin as soon as November 5, the Justice Department has told a federal court, prompting opponents to seek an order blocking work while their lawsuit proceeds.
The National Capital Planning Commission has placed the project on its November 5 agenda for a vote on final site and building plans. The Interior Department is seeking approval for the structure at Memorial Circle, where the bridge approaches the Virginia side of the Potomac River.
The administration’s court notice says construction or preparatory demolition could start immediately after the commission’s approval, provided the Interior Department also issues a final authorization. The statement describes a possible start date, not a decision that construction has been approved.
Three veterans and a retired architectural historian who are challenging the project asked a federal judge Thursday to prevent construction until their claims can be heard. They argue that the administration lacks the necessary congressional authorization for the monument. The government disputes the challenge.
The proposed structure would rise approximately 250 feet and span about 166 feet, according to project materials submitted for federal planning review. Its planned location is close to the ceremonial route between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, a setting critics say would be disrupted by a monument of that scale.
An earlier National Park Service environmental review acknowledged adverse effects on historic views, while supporting the project. The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts has given preliminary approval, but the National Capital Planning Commission’s final review and the Interior Department’s final decision remain outstanding.
Arlington County has filed a separate challenge to the project and its approval process. The planning commission’s November 5 meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. and will be conducted online. The arch appears on the tentative agenda as project 8778.
