Judge temporarily halts construction of Trump's proposed DC arch

USA Today · , USA TODAY · 2026-11-06 04:34 UTC

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan granted a temporary order barring the Trump administration from starting construction of the arch.

A federal judge temporarily blocked construction of President Donald Trump's proposed 250-foot triumphal arch in Washington, DC, on Nov. 5 after the project cleared a key planning hurdle.

The National Capital Planning Commission voted late Nov. 5 to approve the project after hearing from about 100 opponents, including Democratic lawmakers. Rep. Don Beyer of Virginia said the project would "snarl traffic for years, impact the nearby airport, and present even more serious threats to public safety that this commission has refused to acknowledge and grapple with."

The commission's approval had appeared to clear the way for the Trump administration to begin excavation and foundation work within days. The U.S. Department of Justice previously said an initial six to eight months of excavation and foundation work could begin as early as this week, while the National Park Service could issue final permits or other authorizations.

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