The Trump administration plans to begin excavation work for a 250-foot triumphal arch in Washington, D.C. without securing final federal approval, proceeding despite an ongoing lawsuit and a judicial order issued Friday.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced Thursday that excavation would start within two weeks. The proposed arch, with gold statues on top, would stand at one end of the bridge connecting the Lincoln Memorial to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
The project received design approval in May from a federal panel composed of Trump appointees but still requires clearance from the National Capital Planning Commission, which is not scheduled to meet again until October. Multiple agencies are conducting studies on the arch's potential impacts, including effects on the nearby D.C. airport.
A White House spokesperson said the administration is undertaking only work that does not require approval. Government lawyers clarified in a Friday filing that this work involves archaeological surveys, not actual construction.
Late Friday, a federal judge ordered the administration to give 48 hours' notice before commencing any activity other than on-site information gathering.
An architectural historian and three Vietnam War veterans filed a lawsuit earlier this year to block the project, arguing the arch would desecrate Arlington National Cemetery and requires Congressional approval. Historic preservation experts have accused the Trump administration of rushing the review process since the arch was introduced last October.
The Trump administration disputes the necessity of Congressional approval. The legal battle centers on the scope of executive authority versus legislative and historical preservation mandates.
Nicholas Sansone, the lead attorney for the plaintiffs, asserted that any work at the proposed site is premature. "Once construction begins, it might become difficult for a court to offer effective relief," Sansone said. He pointed to a recent Supreme Court ruling on the demolition of the White House East Wing for a ballroom, which could have implications for the arch case.
