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Courts & Justice

Judge blocks construction of Trump's 250-foot arch for 14 days

Hours earlier a federal planning commission approved the arch 8-4, and the White House says it is confident of being fully vindicated in court.

Judge Tanya Chutkan in 2022
Judge Tanya Chutkan in 2022. Photo: United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
14 news outlets reported this
Liberal5 outletsTrump's arch meets a judge and incoming DemocratsCenter6 outletsCourt halt, the arch's plans, and legal groundsConservative3 outletsCommission's approval, judge's halt, White House answer
Published 3 min read
Overview

A federal judge on Thursday night blocked construction of President Trump's planned 250-foot triumphal arch for 14 days. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan issued a after the National Capital Planning Commission voted 8-4 that day to give the project final approval. The arch is planned at Memorial Circle, between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.

The plaintiffs include three Vietnam veterans and an architectural historian, joined by Washington, D.C., and Virginia. Chutkan wrote that "The harm is certain" and rejected the administration's claim that a 100-year-old statute authorized the arch. The administration says a 1925 law gave the needed authority.

The judge ordered the administration to file a compliance report by Monday. White House spokesman Davis Ingle called the court an "activist district court" and said the White House is confident it will be "fully vindicated." On Friday the White House promoted a new arch website that says the structure will include storage for munitions and areas for snipers.

The site does not say what the arch will cost or how it will be paid for. Democrats take control of in January.

Key figures

Three sides of the story

Liberal5 outlets

Trump's arch meets a judge and incoming Democrats

Mother Jones frames the ruling as a first check before a Democratic Congress arrives, under the headline "Trump's Triumphal Arch Hits a Blue Wall." It quotes Rep. Don Beyer, who says "We're counting on the judge in the short run," and Rep. Jared Huffman, who told the commission "We are a nation of laws," "not kings or kangaroo commissions."

The New Republic's "Trump Obsesses Over Triumphal Arch After Judge Blocks Construction" notes the 33-page ruling, the 8-4 vote and the White House's Friday post of an arch rendering. HuffPost runs the AP report, which calls the order "a major setback" and quotes Chutkan: "The harm is certain." It also gives commission member Phil Mendelson's point that Congress has not approved the project or appropriated money for it.

NBC News carries a video segment titled "Judge blocks construction on Trump's D.C.-area arch after approval."

Center6 outlets

Court halt, the arch's plans, and legal grounds

The Seattle Times, running an AP report, leads with the administration pressing ahead despite the order: a "glitzy new website" launched Friday that describes the gold ornamentation and says the arch will include storage for munitions and areas for snipers. It adds that the site does not say what the project will cost. Military Times opens with the judge blocking work within an hour of the vote, reports that 130 members of the public testified and more than 90% opposed, and quotes Chutkan questioning the timing of the military announcement.

Courthouse News, under "Federal judge preemptively blocks 'Arc de Trump,'" reports her 33-page opinion finding a violation of the Commemorative Works Act of 1986 and says the revived its national security argument. Straight Arrow News pairs the ruling with Trump's proclamation making the Oval Office and Cabinet Room a national monument, and cites the National Park Service's reference to "adverse effects."

Conservative3 outlets

Commission's approval, judge's halt, White House answer

The Washington Examiner reports the order as a delay and gives the White House answer. Spokesman Davis Ingle said "An activist district court" blocked the project and that the administration is confident it will be "fully vindicated." It says the 8-4 vote split between federal delegates in favor and local representatives opposed, and that the main structure is around 160 feet, rising to 250 feet with the winged figure and eagles.

The Post Millennial's "Judge Tanya Chutkan puts halt to Trump's Arch" quotes commission vice chairman Stuart Levenback calling the site "little more than a tired traffic circle" and Mendelson saying "It is invalid to say this arch was authorized by Congress." It adds that the administration says the arch would complete a century-old vision Congress authorized. Townhall reports the vote and Chutkan's finding that plaintiffs were likely to succeed, quotes Beyer, and gives Trump's description of the arch as "the most beautiful arch in the world."

All sources: 15 articles from 14 outlets

Liberal (5)

Center (7)

Conservative (3)

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