U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan will hear arguments on blocking Trump’s proposed arch
District Judge Tanya Chutkan will hear Friday arguments on a preliminary injunction to block Donald Trump’s proposed 250-foot arch between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial. The Justice Department says construction could begin as early as Nov. 5; Arlington County also sued in federal court in Virginia.
More context
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan is set to hear arguments Friday on whether to block the 250-foot memorial arch Trump wants built between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial. The hearing concerns a preliminary injunction that would halt construction. Three Vietnam War veterans—Jon Gundersen, Michael Lemmon and Shaun Byrnes—and a historian sued, arguing the project was rushed and lacked proper congressional approval. In court declarations, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin called the arch a “generational defense opportunity” and said it could help protect the country from drone attacks and serve as a base for snipers. Critics have called the national-security rationale a smokescreen. The Justice Department told the court construction could begin as early as Nov. 5, after a National Capital Planning Commission vote expected next week. Arlington County has separately sued in federal court in Virginia.
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Verifier’s note
CBS News reports that arguments over an injunction blocking the arch are scheduled for Friday, while The Independent and The Hill also independently report a Friday court hearing over whether construction can proceed. The reports are consistent with the proposed event and its timing.