Washington, D.C., and Virginia on Saturday sued to block President Donald Trump from building the White House’s proposed Triumphal Arch.
The arch, planned between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, has faced intense opposition from critics on the basis of concerns that it should require congressional approval, and allegations that its height would disrupt historical views and further complicate the D.C. airspace. The main structure’s height is around 160 feet, but rises to 250 feet when accounting for a soaring gold-winged figure and two eagles atop the arch.
With construction on the arch set to start as soon as next week, the two plaintiffs over the weekend filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, asking it to halt Trump’s project. Similar to previous arguments, D.C. and Virginia claimed the monument needs congressional permission, disrupts historic views in the country’s capital, and would have negative impacts on the area during a lengthy construction period, including by congesting traffic.
“The Court should not allow this cynical gambit to succeed. As soon as Defendants break ground on this project, they will inflict irreparable harm on both the District and Virginia,” court filings read.
“The Arch site sits at the center of a major traffic artery between the District and Virginia, in the monumental core of the capital, on an island that straddles the Potomac River. During the three-year period of construction, the Arch project will inevitably snarl traffic between the jurisdictions, produce pollution and stormwater runoff in the Potomac, interfere with emergency services, and pose numerous other challenges,” the lawsuit continued. “These costs are severe and unrecoverable—particularly because Defendants have refused to take them into account or adequately consult with either jurisdiction during their hurried and preordained process to approve the Arch and start construction.”
There are several other lawsuits seeking to block the monument, planned to commemorate the United States’ 250th anniversary and serve as “a top-grade Military Complex,” from being built.
Earlier this month, Arlington County, a Virginia locality that owns the land around the proposed monument, sued Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and National Park Service Director Jessica Bowron to block the project, saying officials rushed the approval process to thwart sufficient analysis and review.
The arch did receive some support earlier this week, when a coalition of veterans groups filed an amicus brief defending the monument. Those organizations included the Vietnam Veterans of America, Korean War Veterans Association, Chosin Few, Military Order of the Purple Heart, National Vet Court Alliance, and Veterans for America First.
The Trump administration has touted the monument as a strategic defense opportunity, as it is planned to be used to help counter drone attacks and to serve as a base for snipers.
TRUMP ARCH COULD TAKE UP TO THREE YEARS AND 20 HOURS OF CONSTRUCTION PER DAY
“The Arch is a generational national defense opportunity to mitigate these evolving threats,” Hegseth wrote in court declarations Wednesday. “It will be utilized as a dual-purpose structure: a major national monument that also incorporates military utility to support Homeland defense.”
“Its height and strategic location provide enhanced lines of sight from both sensors and personnel, which is critical to C-UAS and other security operations,” he added, referring to efforts to counter drones and other aerial systems.
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[ H/T Washington Examiner ]
