Washington, D.C. — A federal court has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump from breaking ground on a planned memorial arch, but the administration is still promoting the project. The White House launched a dedicated website for the arch, which it now calls the “Military Triumphal Arch.”
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan issued a temporary restraining order that bars construction for 14 days. The order came shortly after a federal planning commission voted to approve the project. Critics say that commission is largely made up of Trump allies.
The structure would stand about 250 feet (76 meters) tall between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, with gold ornamentation and gray granite. Plans include an event space reached by elevators and stairs. The website does not say what the arch would cost or how it would be paid for, although some estimates run as high as $100 million.
“This will be the greatest and most beautiful triumphal arch, anywhere in the world.”
Statement attributed to President Trump on the arch website
Opponents have raised concerns about building-height limits, environmental and historic-preservation rules, and the location next to Arlington National Cemetery. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has described the arch as a monument that also has military uses, and the judge acknowledged the government’s national-security interest.
Democrats are due to take control of Congress in January, and the administration’s building projects are expected to face closer scrutiny. The restraining order is temporary, and further court action is expected.
Source
Reporting based on coverage by The Associated Press (Will Weissert), published Nov. 6, 2026. Read the original AP report.
