Federal judge orders temporary halt to Trump's Washington arch project

A federal judge has temporarily prevented construction from starting on President Donald Trump's proposed triumphal arch in Washington, ordering a 14-day pause. US District Judge Tanya Chutkan issued the ruling after the administration said work on the project could begin this week. Several lawsuits challenging the plans leave the eventual construction timetable uncertain.

Earlier on Thursday, the National Capital Planning Commission voted 8-4 to approve construction of the 250ft monument. The decision followed almost nine hours of public comment. Trump-appointed commissioners presented the arch as a tribute to American history and military veterans, while opponents warned that it would obstruct views of Arlington National Cemetery, where thousands of US military personnel are buried.

The project is intended to mark the country's 250th anniversary and forms part of Trump's efforts to reshape the capital. Nicknamed the Arc de Trump in a reference to Paris's Arc de Triomphe, the proposed structure appeared in a design rendering earlier this year topped by a golden, winged Lady Liberty statue and two gold eagles. Gold inscriptions on its sides would read "One Nation Under God" and "Liberty and Justice for All".

The administration has also described a military function for the arch, saying it would contain storage for equipment and facilities capable of deploying snipers and drones. Trump previously promoted the project on Truth Social, claiming Washington was the only city among what he called the world's 59 leading cities and capitals without a triumphal arch. He did not identify the cities included in that comparison.

Commission chairman Mark Paoletta, a Trump appointee, said grand monuments were important to expressing national identity. He and other commissioners argued that building on Columbia Island would carry out a century-old plan for a monumental work supported by Congress and various commissions. Paoletta said the arch would honour the country and its veterans while creating a monumental entrance to Arlington.

Some veterans have pledged to resist construction. Anne Wright, who served in the US military for 29 years and also worked in the diplomatic service, told the BBC that opponents would tie themselves to bulldozers and chain veterans' wheelchairs to equipment. Referring to this week's midterm elections, in which Republicans lost control of Congress, she argued that voters had rejected Trump's policies.

John Pomeroy, an Air Force veteran whose six years of service included the Vietnam War, said the monument would diminish the solemnity of visits to Arlington, where his parents are buried. He criticised the proposed equipment storage role and argued that the structure could become a terrorist target. Pomeroy also said he would try to obstruct construction workers.

Democratic Congressman Jared Huffman told the commission that the arch would interrupt views of both Arlington and the Lincoln Memorial. He argued that those sightlines conveyed national unity and sacrifice, and compared the proposal to arches erected by emperors or kings to celebrate themselves. "This is a tribute to Donald Trump," he said.

The legal challenges raise environmental, traffic and safety concerns, alongside a dispute over whether Congress must authorise construction. Other Trump projects in the capital also face court challenges, including a White House ballroom estimated to cost $400m and plans to renovate a 106-year-old golf course.