The Trump administration plans to begin preparatory work on a 250-foot triumphal arch in Washington, D.C. despite lacking final federal approval, prompting a federal judge to order the administration to provide 48 hours' notice before undertaking any actions beyond on-site information gathering.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced last Thursday that excavation would commence within two weeks. The timing caught many off guard: the project has not secured all necessary federal permits.
The arch received design approval in May from a federal panel composed of Trump appointees. But it still requires authorization from the National Capital Planning Commission, which does not meet until October. Several federal agencies are conducting impact studies, including assessments of potential effects on nearby Reagan National Airport.
A White House spokesperson said the administration is performing only work that does not require approval and "helps in the process." Government lawyers clarified in a filing last Friday that initial work would focus on archaeological surveys, not construction.
The proposed arch, designed to feature gold statues, would stand at one end of the bridge connecting the Lincoln Memorial to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
Historic preservation experts have accused the Trump administration of rushing the review process since October, when the project was first introduced. An architectural historian and three Vietnam War veterans filed a lawsuit against the administration, contending the arch would desecrate Arlington National Cemetery and arguing that Congressional approval is mandatory for its construction.
The administration has rejected the claim that Congressional approval is necessary. The plaintiffs had asked the judge for a temporary restraining order to halt construction for two weeks.
Nicholas Sansone, lead attorney for the plaintiffs, said any work at the site is premature. "Once construction starts, obtaining meaningful relief from a court becomes significantly more challenging," he said.
The dispute echoes a recent battle over a Trump administration plan to demolish the White House East Wing to build a ballroom. The Supreme Court issued a ruling on that project this week, which could shape the arch controversy.
