Virginia and D.C. Sued to Halt Trump Arch Construction

Legal action against the proposed Washington Monument replacement began on Saturday.

Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones and District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb filed a 45-page lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The document describes the project as "flagrantly unlawful." The arch was planned to be 250 feet tall, a height twice that of the Lincoln Memorial. The structure is designated to stand between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial.

The legal team argues that construction could start as soon as the following week. They claim the project would "inflict irreparable harm" on both jurisdictions. Specific concerns include snarled traffic between Virginia and the District. The attorneys general wrote that both areas must take "immediate and costly steps" to assess and mitigate these effects. They noted that the defendants refused to consult with the jurisdictions during the approval process.

President Donald Trump previously described the arch as a "military complex" intended to hold weapons and snipers. Recent plans under review by the National Capital Planning Commission do not include those military elements. The administration unveiled the initial plans in October 2025. The White House and the Interior Department did not respond to requests for comment on Saturday.

U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkin ordered the parties to discuss a briefing schedule for a temporary restraining order. The judge set a deadline for that agreement by Saturday evening.