Vietnam veterans sue to halt Donald Trump's proposed Arlington memorial arch

A group of Vietnam War veterans, led by 83‑year‑old Shaun Byrnes, has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration to stop construction of a proposed 250‑foot “triumphal arch” near the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. The design, approved by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, has not received congressional authorization, which the plaintiffs argue makes the project illegal. The veterans say the massive monument would obscure historic sites and disrespect the 430,000 service members buried at Arlington.

The lawsuit also includes retired diplomats Jon Gundersen and Michael Lemmon, an architectural historian, and the consumer‑rights group Public Citizen. While Trump has described the arch as a personal honor, the plaintiffs contend it threatens the solemnity of the cemetery and raises concerns about the rule of law in monument building.