Arlington County sues to block Trump’s proposed Triumphal Arch

The Arlington County Board in Virginia has filed a lawsuit to block the construction of a proposed 250-foot Triumphal Arch near Arlington National Cemetery. Represented by the nonprofit Democracy Forward, the county is suing the U.S. Department of the Interior and the National Park Service in the Eastern District of Virginia.

The lawsuit alleges that the National Park Service conducted a “cursory and conclusory” review of the project's impacts, violating the National Environmental Policy Act. Local officials argue the project would cause significant harm by worsening traffic in a busy corridor and potentially endangering public safety by clogging thoroughfares needed for emergency services.

Additional concerns raised include risks to aviation safety, as the arch would be located within the approach and departure corridors for Reagan National Airport. The White House has dismissed the lawsuit as “meritless and dilatory,” maintaining that the administration has complied with all legal and procedural requirements.